Breaking into the sports industry isn’t easy – and there’s no single blueprint for success. For Joseph Raines, the journey was built on passion, persistence, and an unwavering belief in his craft.
A self-taught graphic designer with over a decade of experience, Joseph’s path into sport didn’t begin in traditional arenas or front offices. Instead, it was forged in the fast-paced world of esports, freelancing, and relentless self-promotion. Today, he brings that same creative energy to his role as a full-time graphic designer at Yahoo Sports, while continuing to run multiple creative businesses on the side.
In this Behind Sport Industry Insider feature, Joseph opens up about his unconventional journey, what fuels his creativity, and why consistency and resilience remain the ultimate cheat codes for anyone chasing a career in sports design.
Tell us about yourself, what do you do in your current role and what roles have you done previously?
My name is Joseph Raines, and I am a self-taught graphic designer with over 10 years of experience. 18 Months Ago, I joined Yahoo Sports as a full-time graphic designer. In my current role, I tackle a variety of projects, from creating social media graphics, hype graphics , editorial content for our newsletters and developing functional templates for our social media team and more.
Outside of my work at Yahoo, I run a full-time design business that caters to agencies, athletes, and content creators around the world. I also manage a videography and photography business, which keeps my creative juices flowing and allows me to explore different outlets of art. On top of all of that I also try my best to stay active on all social media so I can constantly share my work to the world, and even I help other creatives by teaching courses and giving advice as much as I can.
Believe it or not, this is my first full-time role in the sports industry, though much of my experience comes from the esports scene. I’ve had the privilege of working with several gaming organizations, including eUnited, WorldsBestGaming, Isolation Esports, and many others. Over the past year, as I embarked on my journey into the sports world, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with incredible brands like YouTube TV, Professional Fighters League (PFL), OpTic Gaming, League Alertsand VictoryPlusTV.
What three words would you use to describe your role?
The three words that best describe my current role are fun, challenging, and motivating. I choose “fun” because I get to engage in work I truly love every day. It’s “challenging” because design can be demanding, pushing me to constantly improve my skills.
Finally, it’s “motivating” to see my work enjoyed by millions around the world, inspiring me to keep pushing forward even after the long days.
“Normal” isn’t a thing in sports so what does an “average” week look like for you?
My typical work week consists of 40 hours at Yahoo Sports, alongside managing various client projects across diverse industries. I also create content for my social media platforms, connect with new creatives in the industry daily, and oversee my full-time business.
My schedule definitely gets tricky at times but it also helps me stay on top of things in an industry that is constantly evolving.
How did you end up where you are right now? When did you know you wanted to work in sport?
My journey in the sports industry began just about two years ago, and from the moment I created my first sports graphic, I knew I wanted to pursue this path with all my passion. Having always had a deep love for sports while freelancing full-time, I eventually discovered this exciting niche.
I made it a priority to share my work on social media as much as possible to grow my presence, especially since I was transitioning from a different industry. This effort allowed me to reach hundreds of thousands of new viewers who hadn’t encountered my work before. After eight months of daily posting and applying to countless jobs, I finally received the email I had been waiting for—an opportunity that wouldn’t have been possible without the power of social media.
What is your number one focus when it comes to your work?
My number one focus whenever I am creating anything is how can I make what I’m working on different from others while also giving it “my touch”. I feel like my style is more distinct than most, so I’m always looking for ways to innovate and make my work unique. I’m always trying to push the boundaries in sports design by bringing in different elements that you usually wouldn’t see in our industry.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
The most important lesson I’ve learned in my graphic design career is to never give up. Hard work truly pays off and opens new doors. There have been times when I felt down and nearly let everything I had built slip away, forcing me to start over. But each setback has taught me resilience and that this is an industry that never sleeps
What are you excited about in your industry at the moment?
What excites me the most about my current role as a graphic designer is the chance to work on a variety of sports-related graphics. It’s both fun and refreshing to tackle projects across different sports, as it really pushes my creativity and allows me to explore designs I might not typically get to do. Each project presents a new challenge, and I love the diversity it brings to my work!
Sport is a hectic industry, what do you do to switch off?
When I’m not busy working, I love spending my free time doing things that bring me joy and help me unwind. Golf is one of my favorite hobbies—it’s a great way to challenge myself while enjoying the outdoors. I also make it a point to work out regularly, as it keeps me energized and focused. When I’m looking for a more laid-back activity, I enjoy diving into video games or catching up on sports. Whether it’s baseball, football or anything in between, I can always get lost in the excitement of a good game.
If you were to give a piece of advice to someone wanting to do your role, what would you say?
If I were to give advice to someone aspiring to step into my role, I’d say this: never give up, and trust that hard work will always pay off. Consistency is key—regularly sharing your work across all social media platforms is the ultimate cheat code to building your success.
How to connect with Joseph Raines…
You can check out all of my social media links here as well as my website, and portfolio!
https://www.instagram.com/visionofjoe/
https://www.behance.net/visionofjoe
Joseph Raines’ story is a reminder that there’s no such thing as a “normal” path into sport – only the one you’re willing to commit to every single day. From late nights posting work on social media to designing graphics seen by millions around the world, his career is proof that persistence, originality, and belief in yourself can open doors that once felt impossible.
As the sports industry continues to evolve, creatives like Joseph are helping redefine what sports design looks like – pushing boundaries, blending influences, and proving that hard work truly does pay off.
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