Celebrating Women’s Voices

Tasked with creating a fresh, inclusive visual identity for the Women+Film Festival 2023, I embarked on a journey to celebrate women in film and resonate with a diverse audience. Despite tight timelines, solo design process from ideation to execution, and limited resources, my aim was to craft an empowering design that truly reflected the festival's mission of inclusivity and women's empowerment.

Vision & Creative Leadership

As the sole designer and creative lead, I managed every facet of the project, from concept and strategy to design and execution. My goal was to deliver a visually compelling brand identity that showcased female empowerment and inclusivity, gathering insights through empathetic listening to ensure alignment with the festival’s diverse audience.

Creative Process: From Inspiration to Design

Research & Strategy

I conducted a competitor and industry analysis, drawing inspiration from festivals like Sundance, Athena, and the Geena Davis Film Festival. This research informed my approach to balancing empowerment with inclusivity, using colors historically linked to feminism, like purple, to deepen audience connection.

Honoring Women’s Legacy in Film

Exploring women’s contributions to film, particularly in technical roles often uncredited, inspired me to incorporate embroidery-like design elements. This symbolized the hands-on roles women have played, drawing inspiration from Sabrina Gschwandtner’s work that blends textile arts with film history.

Creative Concepts to Refined Design

My creative process focused on empathy and inclusivity, aiming to resonate with diverse audiences. Through a cyclical iteration process involving constant feedback and collaboration, I refined ideas to align with the festival’s objectives, creating a design that conveys empowerment, inclusivity, and representation.

Final Design Solution

The final design, a blend of bold typography, vibrant colors, and dynamic motion graphics, brought the festival’s themes to life. The design was praised for its authenticity, emotional impact, and alignment with the festival’s mission, showcasing my ability to create meaningful work that resonates with diverse audiences.

Final Execution: Bringing the Vision to Life

I crafted a cohesive visual identity across digital and print mediums, ensuring each asset, from social media graphics to program booklets, told a compelling story. Every design decision reflected the festival’s values of inclusivity and empowerment, creating an authentic and vibrant brand experience.

Seamless Brand Integrity

I designed a full suite of assets, including digital banners, email graphics, social media visuals, and more, using After Effects for dynamic motion graphics for screen sizes ranging from phones to the cinema screen itself. Asset organization on Dropbox streamlined team access, ensuring smooth communication and workflow. A branding kit and guidelines maintained design consistency across platforms.

Empowering Women’s Stories Through Design

The Women+Film Festival 2023 visual identity reclaimed “women’s work” as high art, elevating each filmmaker’s vision into a woven tapestry of empowerment. Through culturally responsive and trauma-informed design, this project celebrated women’s artwork, filmmaking, and stories, embodying the festival’s mission with heart and authenticity.