Denis Law Legacy Trust’s young volunteer representing Scotland through design and pride
Photo credit: Maria Demsey
To celebrate the 2026 World Cup, the Denis Law Legacy Trust (DLLT) is proud to be the Scottish partner in Design FC’s global Youth Creative Collective.
This international initiative brings together 37 organisations from around the world, each selecting a Youth Design Leader to create a football kit that reflects their country’s unique story, culture and identity. The designs will be showcased in New York City during this summer’s FIFA World Cup.
Led by Design FC, the Youth Creative Collective highlights the creativity and perspective of young people, using football and design to share powerful national stories on a global stage.
Representing Scotland is 17-year-old Denis Law Legacy Trust volunteer Marcus Crooks from Aberdeen, whose journey reflects the impact of the charity’s programmes. Starting as a participant before volunteering at 14, Marcus has grown into a valued team member, developing strong leadership, creativity and teamwork skills. His passion for Aberdeen, where he was raised in Torry, and his commitment to the charity made him an ideal Youth Leader Designer.
Proudly representing Scotland on a global stage, Marcus said, “If there’s one thing the world should know about Scotland, it’s this passion. Passion for the land, the people and especially for sport. Legends like Denis Law remind everyone of the pride Scotland carries, not just in its sporting heroes, but in its shared history and identity.”
Photo credit: Lea Zizlavska
Marcus created his design by working alongside Robert Gordon University Gray's School of Art Communication Design students, Lea Zizlavska and Kyle Wicks who have been involved in the project from the beginning, both agreeing it has been an incredible experience. They said, “To work alongside Marcus and unlocking a creative side of himself that he might not have seen before has been so fulfilling for us all. It is safe to say that everyone cherished every step of the journey, making the most of little moments from the initial sketching, exploring Marcus’s perspective of his community and Scotland, undertaking a photoshoot and to seeing Marcus’s Scottish design getting featured on Design FC’s social media.”
The design captures Marcus’ enthusiasm for Scotland and his roots, blending nature, diversity, friendships and sport, with football at its heart as something that brings people together. Marcus talked us through the design process, “We started with the Scotland flag. We used an oil-based ink to roll over the design and a solvent to wash away the cross, which was positioned asymmetrically to show it wraps around to the back of the kit. This method created really interesting marks and helped symbolize the weather conditions associated with Scotland. The crown and green mountains on the back of the design were done using the same method and represent Aberdeen with the red colour for Denis Law’s crown and Scotland’s mountains.”
Photo credit: Maria Demsey
Mark Williams, Chief Operating Officer for the Denis Law Legacy Trust said "We’re incredibly proud of Marcus and everything he has achieved with the Trust. To see one of our young volunteers representing Scotland on a global stage like this is a huge moment, not just for him, but for the young people we serve. Being selected to take part in such a prestigious international project with Design FC is a fantastic opportunity, and it really highlights the talent, creativity and potential that exists within our young people. A big thank you to the RGU students, Lea and Kyle who have helped make it all happen."
Marcus’ design will be showcased in a gallery in Manhattan's Lower East Side, NY, bringing his passion for Scotland to life on a global stage as he proudly represents his country - an incredible opportunity for a 17-year-old from Aberdeen.
