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Visual Communications

5 Ways to Make Your Festival Visually Epic

Author: Linda Sultmann

Australians have come to expect a lot from their festivals. They’re where good food, drink, and fun are experienced and great memories are made.

Australians have come to expect a lot from their festivals. They’re where good food, drink, and fun are experienced and great memories are made. With so many quality events filling the calendar each month, to attract visitors, a festival needs flair. It needs to be run like a well-oiled machine, take care of its patrons, and wow them at every opportunity.

Here are 5 ways to make your festival visually epic:

  1. Bigger Really is Better
    When it comes to festival signs, forget subtlety. Display and safety signage should be bold, bright, and prominently placed. Banners, flags, and interactive digital kiosks are all great ways of establishing your message. Make a big splash if you want to make a lasting impression
    Vivid Festival
  2. Create a Theme
    Creating and following a theme gives your festival a coherent message, and inclusive vibe and ties the event together. A theme helps organizers, suppliers, and sponsors create narratives and messages that will make more sense to visitors. A theme also provides an opportunity for contests and promotions that can help build enthusiasm and participation.
  3. Point the Way
    It’s all about the experience and many attendees will be unfamiliar with the event facility or grounds, so it can take away from their day if they continuously have to stop to decipher confusing maps. Wayfinding signage gives patrons clear and definitive directions in a busy and disorienting environment. Wayfinding signs come in all shapes and sizes and can easily be tailored to an event. Digital signs offer customised and interactive messaging, while monument signs and large maps ensure visitors can safely navigate the event.
  4. Be Consistent
    Whether you’re promoting safety or your company’s brand, consistency is key in effectively delivering a message. Keep your message short and concise. Guests have little time to digest intricate directions or extensive messaging. Choose an appropriate colour scheme, and stick to it. Selecting two colours is ideal as anything more can be distracting.
  5. Safety Signs First
    Safety is at the forefront of effective planning for any large gathering. Large crowds can be unpredictable, but proper safety signage helps patrons, officials, and emergency teams react promptly and appropriately. Safety signs should be bold and strategically placed. You should also consult industry body safety regulations to ensure your signs and festival are compliant.

For additional ideas on the signs and visual graphics that can help make your festival a success, here is a visual checklist: