Max racks up triple milestone with his British Grand Prix merch designs

While Ferrari Formula One race ace Sebastian Vettel took the chequered flag on the track at the last British Grand Prix, student Max Grymel came away from the race weekend with THREE prizes.

The University of Northampton Graphic Communication undergraduate took part in an annual challenge set by Silverstone Circuit’s merchandise team, which gives those on the degree course the opportunity to design T-shirts and caps for the race.

Each year around 200 student designs are submitted, with the best selected, produced and sold by Silverstone.

Talented Max not only had one of his T-shirts chosen as Silverstone’s favourite design, it was also the circuit’s bestselling over the race weekend, with petrol heads snapping up almost 1,000. A Grand Prix baseball cap designed by Max was also the bestselling headgear, shifting 900 sales in all. He also sold all of his special Grand Prix mugs, too.

The sales figures hat-trick was the icing on the cake for Max, who attended the race weekend, back in July 2018.

He said: “I went to the Grand Prix and went to one of the merchandise stalls and couldn’t believe it when I saw my designs for sale – and the staff wearing one of my T-shirts.

“I stood there for 30 minutes just to see if anyone bought something I had designed. My sister came with me and she spotted someone wearing one of my shirts. It was an amazing feeling.

“Now, to have found out mine were the bestselling items, as well as being chosen as the best by Silverstone, has given me such a great feeling and I’m proud of myself.

“When we got the brief, I was doubtful at first, but decided to keep my designs simple, and that worked. It’s given me lots of confidence for the future and is something I can put on my CV.”

Max’s British Grand Prix T-shirts and cap.

Max’s bestselling T-shirt.

One of Max’s Silverstone T-shirts.

Max, who is originally from Bytom, Poland, is set to graduate in July and is now looking beyond life at University.

He and his graphic designer/photographer sister have set up their own design agency, Sekhmet Design Studio, and plan to ramp up its client base, while Max also plans to keep on designing T-shirts.

Max said: “Winning the best design at Silverstone will help me to get my freelance career off the ground. I have been working on my T-shirt designs and have some great concepts for my portfolio. T-shirts are a timeless piece of clothing with their roots in pop art, music and culture. They are as popular today as they have ever been, and say something about the person wearing it.”

Trevor Brown, the University’s Programme Leader for Graphic Communication, said: “Silverstone has, over the last four years, become a valued partner and once again our students stepped up and designed an excellent range.

“Max had two of his designs chosen and clearly not only enjoyed the challenge, but also really understood what the client and audience wanted for the 17/18 range.

“Max’s concepts were unique, elegant and professionally executed and immediately caught the attention of the client. Max has very much continued the sales success of previous years’ students and it is well deserved.”