With the UK festival season in full swing, and Glastonbury recently closing it’s doors, we posed a challenge to our design team: what would your perfect festival look like?
The brief? Imagine and brand a dream festival that would be perfect for you. The result? Two completely different but equally beautiful brands (if we do say so ourselves!) that celebrate music, creativity, and personal expression.
Sunset by Dave
“A nod to the iconic Sunshine Cinema, once the beating heart of New York’s indie scene.”
For Dave, the ideal festival is based on nostalgia, graffiti, alternative beats and trip-hop. Sunset is a festival that celebrates its legacy with a line-up of his all-time favourite artists.
At the heart of the brand is a striking mural by world-renowned graffiti artist Faust, giving the event a visually arresting centrepiece.
29 by Ant
“Say hello to 29, where mountain biking meets music!”
Combining his two biggest passions, mountain biking and music, Ant’s festival is a weekend-long celebration built for mountain bike enthusiasts of all ages, with non-stop riding events during the day and live music carrying the vibe in the evening.
The name 29 comes straight from the world of MTB – it’s a nod to the 29” wheels that offer that smoother, faster ride we all love. From whip-offs and mini downhill races to expert talks, street food, and buzzing festival energy, there’s something for every rider and rhythm lover.
So what are some of our favourite current festival brands?
Whether it’s for heavy rockers or ravers, there’s a festival that is suited to everyone in the UK, and with that comes a brand that’s adapted to that audience. With so many to choose from, here’s a few of our favourites here at Strategi Creative.
All Points East, 2018–2019
All Points East is a festival in Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets, London tailored for everyone featuring genres like indie, rock, electronic, hip-hop, and more. Their festival is more than the music, as they are passionate about making a positive impact on their local community.
Their 2018-2019 branding features bright colours and gradients, designed by Studio Moross who explained that their decision behind the brand ‘was inspired by imagery from the surroundings of Victoria Park on a very micro scale, in combination with a colour palette taken from heat maps, mapping the density and aura of the surrounding area’.
Parklife, 2024
Based in the heart of Manchester at Heaton Park, Parklife is an annual two-day music festival taking place in June every year, predominantly featuring dance and electronic music, as well as pop and hip-hop artists.
Described as their ‘biggest visual shake up yet’, Studio Moross also designed Parklife’s brand campaign in 2024 in collaboration with Illustrator, Guy Field. Described as ‘sitting somewhere between the worlds of pop art and comics’, the combination of illustrations and an array of typography choices, we’re a big fan of this brand in the studio.
V Festival
V-Festival, or commonly known as V-Fest, was an annual music festival in the UK, held simultaneously at Hylands Park in Chelmsford and Weston Park in South Staffordshire.
Their branding, created by Form, was designed to be a ‘brave and celebratory visual identity to herald a new era for the festival’. Their identity is a great demonstration of how major companies can diversify into a new industry. The branding for V-Festival was still recognisable as being owned by Virgin and for their quality, fun and out-there branding but ultimately became it’s own entity.
Things to consider when designing a Festival brand.
When creating an identity for a music festival, the brand must capture the spirit and excitement of the event. The look and feel of your festival should be just as memorable as the experience itself.
Consistency also plays a key role in your brand as your branding must communicate across all assets, whether it’s digital platforms like social media, screens or your website to physical elements like tickets, wristbands and signage. Ensuring your brand remains cohesive and impactful in every formate is vital to building recognition and trust with your audience.
The correct brand can be a powerful way to tell a story, even when it’s personal to you. Whether it’s a logo or campaign, our team are here to help you bring your brand to the stage to tell your story and make it unforgettable. If you’d like to find out more, get in touch with our team here.
