SIFF DocFest Posters
I designed a series of three posters to promote the 2025 SIFF DocFest, developing a new visual identity while conveying core information about the event.
To effectively promote the festival, it was essential to research its background, as well as that of DocFest as a whole. Exploring SIFF’s history and event lineup, I identified some key aspects:
Accessibility
SIFF eschews the artsy, snobby connotations that come with international/independent film, instead offering an experience that’s open to anyone.
Reality
DocFest leans into the fun, relatable nature of documentaries — these aren’t boring non-fiction films; they’re exciting, captivating, and real tales.
Audience
SIFF seems to have a wide audience, but it seems to skew towards older adults, and the festivals are often attended by groups.
I took the time to keep my options wide, sketching dozens of different ideas.
Each of these had a strong suit:
I created three initial poster concepts, but none seemed to really land. Instead of trying to make a flawed concept work, I stayed agile, bringing three entirely new concepts to the following critique.
Event though it had felt like my least refined concept, the third design was the clear choice — the goal was not just to make something polished and aesthetically pleasing, but to communicate the right information and feelings to the audience.
I continued through several iterations of this design, focusing on the details to create a polished final product.
Each of the final adjustments connected back to the project's goal, focusing on its intended impact.
