Wildfires Festival – Sadler Greenwood Design

Identity / Print / Digital / Campaign

Client: Wildfires Festival

Igniting the next generation:

Wildfires is an independent festival with a big ambition: to grow its audience from 3,000 to 10,000 while attracting a younger generation of festival-goers. The brief was to give the festival a significant uplift, creating a stronger, more distinctive identity that could capture the energy of the event, appeal to new audiences and bring a growing festival experience together as one.

Somthing Nu:

Europe’s largest furniture supplier turned to us for help reaching a distinct audience, workplace architects and designers. They were prepared to do so in a way which diverted from their usual safe and professional approach

Somthing Nu:

Europe’s largest furniture supplier turned to us for help reaching a distinct audience, workplace architects and designers. They were prepared to do so in a way which diverted from their usual safe and professional approach.

The client owned the buildings in the Knowledge Quarter district of King’s Cross. They were currently tenanted with planning permission for a total refurbishment and increase of floorspace. The owners wanted to emphasize the building’s history (a former leatherworks) as well as tell the story of its present and future.

We developed a complete brand identity built around Wildfires’ three spiritual fires, creating a flexible visual system that could move seamlessly from campaign and digital to the festival site itself. We also helped shape and brand a dedicated youth festival within Wildfires, giving younger audiences their own space and identity while remaining part of the wider experience. From programmes, campaigns and guidelines to signage, maps, wristbands and volunteer programmes, creating an energetic identity built to help Wildfires grow.

The Nu campaign (Swedish for New) was born. We created a website, a brochure and a targeted magazine – each with an artistic and offbeat visual feel. Imagery from @brockdavis lifted the magazine front covers and each spread was designed with a unique personality, capturing the heart of Scandinavian design and culture.

“We’ve gone from 3,000 to over 10,000 visitors in three years, and Sadler Greenwood have been a huge part of that journey. They’ve helped evolve our identity, brought loads of creativity and energy to the festival and launched our new Youth Festival with us. They’re responsive, full of ideas and genuinely great to work with. Roll on next year!”

Matt - Head of Marketing