Client: Leeds Playhouse
Date: 2018-2019
Tools: Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere, After Effects
Brief: Create digital and print materials to increase ticket sales and raise sponsorship, additional brand support
Result: A sold-out season!
This made a change from my usual work creating communications for science and humanitarian audiences!
I worked with the Leeds Playhouse team as their sole designer for a season, and the range of materials they needed was very exciting. They had just had a complete rebrand, so it was really important to make sure all the material was consistent with the new branding. As the guardian of the brand, I also delivered training on the brand guidelines to all staff.
Digital
Digital materials included large animated screen boards for roads and train stations, email banners sidebar adverts and social media assets. They were designed according to a content calendar to ensure regular release.
Print
I also produced a range of materials for their sell-out season, including the main season brochure, flyers, posters, and large-scale billboards. One particular challenge here was balancing the photography resolution with a very large-scale print. I liaised closely with the printer to ensure the billboard would be the best quality visual to represent their programming. I exported proofs of all print work with appropriate settings, making sure I was available to collaborate closely with the printers as required.
The biggest challenge here was the sheer volume of materials they needed. In total, I designed their full season brochure, more than 20 flyers, 20 posters, 4 billboards, in addition to countless digital and print adverts, and social media and multimedia assets. I'm delighted to say I've never missed a deadline in my life, but this required very careful time management! I used a combination of Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.
This project was quite different for me, as most of my professional focus is on climate change research and global issues. In fact, my love of theatre stems from the same root as my love of design - they both tell stories which can have the power to move. One of the shows I designed for, Partition, was an exploration of how emotions related to the Partition of India had been inherited through the generations, and how they manifest in young Sikh, Hindu and Muslim communities in the UK today.
