Can an arts festival continue to unite a diverse urban neighborhood? Building upon the successful launch of the 2021 Mission Hill Arts Festival in Boston—festival organizers again reached out to Dan Vlahos Design as they sought a visual branding toolkit for 2022. The 2022 summer festival presented weekly weekend outdoor performances from June–August. Presented under the theme of “interconnections,” the festival organizers wanted to explore notions of diversity, pluralism, and community in both the branding and the events.

In support of this mission and in the spirit of building upon the solution we developed for 2021—Dan Vlahos Design explored visual language that sought the denote the interconnected themes. The chosen solution indicates an event that is at once urban, vibrant, interconnected, dynamic, and community-based. This annual festival presents avant-garde visual and performing artists from various cultures and in a wide range of styles. Thus, we wanted the identity to reflect this openness and range. Lastly, we hoped the solution would appeal to participants of all ages, from local college students to those living in nearby elderly homes.

The organizers produced stickers, fliers, postcards, and posters which we designed to promote the festival. We also designed large-format banners and wayfinding elements to support the events.

The 2022 festival was generously supported by Arts Talks, the Boston Cultural Council, Mission Hill Main Streets, The Record Co., City of Boston Credit Union, and Celebrity Series of Boston Neighborhood Arts.

Credits—

Design Director: Dan Vlahos
Designer: Jeff LoPilato
Client: Luisa Harris, Executive Director

Case Studies—

Arts Engagement for Healing and Transformation in Mission Hill, 2009–2023.

Recognition—

Group Exhibition (Juried), MassArt x SoWa 2022 Design Biennial, Nov 2022–Jan 2023, Boston, MA

Press—

Catch a Performance at the Mission Hill Arts Festival, Boston.com, July 2022.

Gregory Groover Jr. Closes out Mission Hill Arts Fest, The Bay State Banner, August 2022.

Merrimack Graphic Design Assistant Professor, Students, and Alumni Support Newly Launched Arts Festival in Boston, Merrimack College Campus News, May 2023.

FILED IN: Brand Design