York Early Music Festival 2021
Festival Identity
Graphic Design
Interior Display
Signage
Social media
Print
Digital
Website and maintenance
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
In 2021, the York Early Music Festival became a fully online experience, shaped by the theme Encounters and a reflection on human connection during the isolation of the pandemic.
The visual identity for the 2021 festival included a complete set of graphic assets spanning print, digital, and social media. Inspired by the theme Encounters, the design subtly wove the letters “u” and “n” throughout the visuals—symbolising unity and connection at a time when people were physically apart.
With the announcement of lockdown in 2020, the festival had to move quickly and adapt to an entirely online experience. To make this possible, we developed a bespoke ticketed streaming platform—an online auditorium embedded within the NCEM website.
This secure system allowed only ticket holders to access performances, creating a seamless and fully branded digital environment. It not only preserved the integrity of the festival, but also opened it up to a wider, international audience for the first time.
Despite the restrictions, the festival’s reach grew dramatically by connecting with a wider audience than ever before. The digital format transformed limitations into new opportunities and the identity we created helped convey both intimacy and global connection.
