Visual Identity for Bergen International Festival

The traditional Norwegian cultural institution already had a varied programme but was struggling to make contact with younger audiences. The solution was a new and revamped visual identity designed by Anti’s Bergen-based office.

Playful and ingenious

Anti’s answer was a complex yet playful visual identity which succeeded in communicating the festival’s wide-ranging content to a younger and broader audience. Bridging musical and visual language, the visual expression is built on what they have in common; a note and a pixel – using the single element to construct the iconic F-logo and from then develop mathematical structures and rhythmic patterns.

This allows for animation and creative interpretations and for the pattern to be adapted both digitally and on many different physical surfaces. The colour palette achieves great contrasts and visibility and is based on black and white piano keys and soft, pastel colours from important buildings in Bergen related to the festival.

Profitable investment

This bold and modern identity successfully manages to both revitalise and preserve the heritage of the festival and has proved to be a big success. In the first four years after the launch of the new visual identity, the festival attracted new audiences and the number of visitors skyrocketed by 108 % while the total income increased by 32 %.

Design Effectiveness Award

Anti’s work has also attracted lots of positive press nationally and internationally and won awards such as Norwegian Award for Design Excellence, the prestigious European Design Awards, Red Dot and in 2019, ANTI Bergen was the first Norwegian agency to be given the Design Effectiveness Award by Design Business Association in London.