Festival Festastic

April 2024 | Concept Design | University Project

Brief: Interactive festival toolkit promoting well-being.

Role: Graphic Designer

Partners: Dayfold, Lush, Foil & Co.

Tools: Adobe Illustrator, InDesign

An interactive toolkit for festivals, designed for both solo attendees and groups. It combines fun physical challenges with engaging mental activities to boost energy, reduce anxiety, and enhance emotional well-being.

The toolkit encourages social connections through shared activities while promoting the role of physical and mental engagement in building community.

Developed in collaboration with Dayfold, Lush, and Foil & Co. the final design was printed by Dayfold and shortlisted for recognition.

KEY FINDINGS

Key Insight 1 According to Boolani et al. (2021), “six minutes of activity can improve mood.” Regular physical activity not only uplifts mood but also diminishes the risk of depression by triggering the release of hormones like endorphins and serotonin, which elevate mood, ultimately fostering a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.

Key Insight 2 Lush’s commitment to environmental improvement within their company and products through their embrace of naked packaging aligns with objectives such as the Sustainable Development Goals through their ethical practices and policies.

Key Insight 3 The effect our environment has on our mood and what colours and trends within colour can do to help the way we live and view ourselves, as well as the influence these things have on well‐being and mood. (Chaudhary and Sharma, 2023)

This design route focuses on Blue Dot festival, a family-friendly festival celebrating space, science, and sustainability, and highlights the link between exercise and endorphin release. The concept merges past and future with comic-style dinosaurs in space.

Early drafts I worked through, combining dinosaurs, space, and activity, although this felt cluttered, so I refined the focus to sporty dinosaurs against a space backdrop. Through colour and texture experiments, I created Endroactive, a playful blend of endorphins, raptor, and active. The theme mirrors astronauts’ struggles with fitness in zero gravity, paired with the slogan:

“Win your way back from extinction.”

ROUTE ONE

This design celebrates the spirit of festivals through flowing, repeating patterns that invite interpretation. Vibrant colours reflect Lush’s identity, while elements like flowers, eyes, stars, mushrooms, music notes, and retro icons create an evolving visual journey.

Designed for a medium box with matching posters and cards, it blends packaging with interaction. Inside are two activities: a festival game for solo or group play and a fitness challenge promoting social and physical engagement.

“Making friends at a festival shouldn’t be a sweat.”

ROUTE TWO

This design centres on the tagline “Muddle Through It,” reflecting the challenge of building healthy habits for emotional and physical well-being.

Initially a festival wrap, the concept evolved to feature a boot symbolising progress through obstacles. A printing error inspired a 90s retro gaming aesthetic, adding character and depth.

The toolkit includes a weekly planner, sticker tracker, and interactive games like “Create Your Own Workout.” Since habits take about 66 days to form, most difficult at the start. This kit makes the journey fun and engaging.

Can you muddle through and build your new habit?

ROUTE THREE

PRINT CONSIDERATIONS

Sustainability and sensory engagement shaped this design.

The box uses G.F Smith Extract Paper made from 95% recycled coffee cup fibres, reflecting Lush’s environmental values. An off-white ‘Moon’ tone is paired with under 80% foiling for recyclability, with even embossing for a tactile feel.

A 5–6 color Pantone neon palette (801–814) adds vibrancy while remaining cost-effective. Designed for interaction, the box mirrors Lush’s in-store sensory experience.

INTRODUCING FESTIVAL FESTASTIC

“Festival Festastic” isn’t just about movement; it’s about building connections, fostering well-being, and embracing both physical and mental activity.

The festival poster doubles as a multi-game board, featuring activities like bingo, a skipping rope challenge, puzzles, and classic noughts and crosses - ensuring fun for all, no matter the pace.

After all, making friends at a festival shouldn’t be a sweat!

This final box design earned me a shortlisted place for the Visual Thinking Wellbeing Toolkit 2024 Award.

PROJECT REFLECTION

Research played a central role in shaping my design, guiding both concept and execution. Exploring Lush’s brand ethos, packaging goals, and design elements allowed me to create a festival-inspired product that aligns with their identity while promoting an active lifestyle.

Feedback from Lush was pivotal, helping me refine my approach to ensure the design was inclusive and appealing to festival-goers. Iterating on initial concepts with their insights resulted in a product that embodies Lush’s spirit and meets the brief.

This project also strengthened my skills—learning Illustrator quickly, improving communication, and presenting ideas clearly. Interacting with the client enhanced my ability to respond to feedback and maintain a cohesive design narrative.

Finally, the project developed my research skills, from gathering and analyzing information to distilling findings into actionable insights. Overall, I’m proud of the outcome and the growth I achieved, creating a design that meets objectives and resonates with the target audience.