About the BluesFest Poster Series

Objective

The client needed three promotional posters for the new BluesFest Australia event. The aim was to design three different posters with the use of one design language that captures the spirit of blues music combined with the excitement of a festival.

History

Bluesfest was born in 1990 in Byron Bay. It has since grown from a small, local event into Australia's leading blues and roots music festival. It is now held at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, with the festival hosting over 200 performances across five days and attracting over 100,000 attendees annually.

Target Audience

The festival targets a three-tier audience:

• Music Lovers and Festival Attendees: Those who desire a lively multi-day live music experience focusing on blues, roots, and contemporary music.

• Artists and Performers: Local and international musicians looking to join a prestigious lineup and extend their reach to new audiences.

• Cultural tourists and families: Individuals attracted by the atmosphere of the festival, the sense of community, and the venue of Byron Bay.

Design Considerations

The current design is effective in maintaining a proper visual identity that, nonetheless, may be subject to new proposals that enhance its presence. Current branding and advertisement are already performing well, but increasing these every year is suggested to boost the overall impact of the festival.

Potential Design Elements

Line: It allows the expression of movement and dynamism, guiding the viewer's eye through the poster design to the singer.

Shape: Commonly used to create frames or illustrations by bringing them into shape and adding structure and interest.

Texture: Added to give the posters a "Blues-Like" personality, down-to-earth yet formal and elegant.

Colors: the diversity

A bold yet harmonious palette of Gold, Azure, and Dark Brown was chosen for optimal visual effect. Gold and Azure are liberally used for the clothing of performers and backgrounds to present an accessible contrast and dynamic harmony. Dark Brown is only used for typography, such as event details and the logo, for strong legibility and also to express notions of authenticity and roots.

Colors: The Why

Gold and Azure were chosen because of their dynamic harmony and contrast. Gold brings warmth, energy, and celebration into the concept, representing the richness of live blues. Azure brings in cool, soulful energy that could visually express the nature of the genre. The result is a combo that feels both contemporary and classic.

Legibility and Accessibility

Dark Brown was chosen for all textual content since it contrasts very strongly with the gold background. This prioritizes readability and accessibility for diverse audiences, ensuring key information will be easily readable from a distance or for viewers with visual impairments.

In General The design uses the Gold and Azure pairing to convey the energetic warmth and soulful coolness of the festival, in line with the vibe of the Bluesfest brand. Earthly Dark Brown with Gold and Azure features cultural and symbolic references to blues traditions. When it came to Print & Production, the inks selected were picked to ensure reliable CMYK conversion, economical ink coverage, and consistent reproduction for reasonable printing costs.