About the project
The St Thomas’ Art & Craft Show is a beloved annual event that brings the Willoughby community together for two huge days every October. With a vibrant mix of art, gourmet food, entertainment, stalls and family-friendly activities, the show has been running for more than 40 years, raising vital funds for St Thomas Catholic Primary School.
I was commissioned to provide graphic design for the show’s publicity for the second consecutive year, helping the team bring their ‘Festival of Fun’ vision to life. This year’s concept drew on familiar elements from the previous year but reinvented them with a spring twist. We kept consistent brand colours, but incorporated fresh, spring-themed illustrations.
Project goals
The project involved creating a cohesive suite of print and digital assets to promote the 2024 event and enhance the event experience, including:
- Large format posters and street signage
- Promotional displays for the event, as well as raffle, class artwork and rides
- Social media tiles and stories
- Opening night party posters and graphics
- A 4-page print flyer celebrating the incredible student class artworks available for auction
- A 28-page show magazine, featuring the event highlights, articles and sponsors
How I approached the project
1. Discover
Working closely with the show committee, we defined the scope of work required and the overall creative direction. We wanted to create designs that felt bright, fun and community-focused, while tying everything together under a consistent event identity.
2. Create
The design concept for 2024 captured the show’s ‘Festival of Fun’ spirit, with bright colours, playful typography and illustrations of bunting, rides, balloons and clouds. The typography was chosen to evoke a sense of childhood fun. The colour palette built on the existing brand colours, with fresh touches of light blue, pink and purple. The watermelon slice remained a key component, serving as a recognisable symbol of the event each year. A consistent visual style was applied across all touchpoints, tying everything together and creating a fresh, vibrant look.
3. Refine
Over several months, the comprehensive suite of materials was progressively rolled out. At each stage, and with regular feedback from the organising committee, I fine-tuned each asset to ensure it would be eye-catching for the community – whether online, on the street or at the show.
The highlights
- Consistent, cohesive visual identity across all event materials
- Beautiful 28-page community magazine celebrating local artists and sponsors
- Wide range of digital, print and signage assets
- Positive feedback from organisers and the community
- Proud to support a long-standing local event for the second year running
