Some Ottawa Rapid merchandise has been removed from its website after CBC Ottawa made inquiries about errors in the design. (Ottawa Rapid FC)
Ever heard of Ottawa’s Van Blurené Parc or gazed upon the giant sign on the national gallery?
That alternate version of Ottawa was briefly on merchandise for the Ottawa Rapid soccer team before it was pulled.
Earlier this month, a fan of the Northern Super League club reached out to CBC Ottawa to flag problems with an $85 sweater she’d seen in the team’s store, questioning whether it was made using artificial intelligence (AI).
The design on the sweater and other merchandise features illustrations of Ottawa landmarks with short phrases like “Bytown” and “Rideau Falls” interspersed throughout.
But it also featured several questionable elements, which CBC asked the soccer team about:
Some of the detail on a shirt for sale. (Ottawa Rapid FC)
In response, Ottawa Rapid said that Marcus Farias, the Toronto-based artist behind the design, told them no generative AI was used on his end.
CBC News reached out to Farias directly, but did not hear back by deadline.
The club said the drawings were not intended as an architecturally or geographically precise representation of the city.
“The original artwork was intentionally a stylized interpretation of Ottawa, with creative licence taken in depicting the city’s landmarks,” according to a statement from Shawna Newbery, the club’s chief marketing officer.
As for the textual errors, the club said the text had been changed by its production partner from what the artist had originally created. They did not confirm how or why that was done before deadline.
The team did say the reference to “Van Blurené Parc” originally read “Viam Prepare Parati,” which seems to be a mix of Latin and English.
The Rapid said Marcus Farias, a Toronto-based artist, confirmed that no generative AI was used to create this original art in question. (Marcus Farias)
“The changes to the lettering on the finished merchandise, including the reference to a non-existent park, did not reflect the intended design and should have been identified before the products went on sale,” wrote Newbery.
She said the club is working with its partners to understand how the issues occurred and establish a stronger review and approval process, and may produce a revised version of the original design.
The club has withdrawn all merchandise featuring the affected design, it said, and will offer “full refunds to supporters who wish to return their purchases.”
“We take pride in representing Ottawa, and our supporters deserve that same care and attention to detail in everything we do,” Newbery wrote.
