Chicago Kurdish Film Festival Brand Identity and Event Design

Client: Kurdish Cultural Center of Illinois
My Role: Lead Graphic Designer

Designing the visual identity for the Chicago Kurdish Film Festival required a thoughtful blend of cultural heritage and classic cinematic aesthetics. To capture the essence of Kurdish culture, I established the visual foundation around a vibrant, intricately illustrated peacock, a profound cultural symbol of beauty and resilience. This detailed centerpiece is set against a deep black background and framed by golden film strips and vintage camera iconography, immediately communicating the event’s focus on film. The rich gold typography adds a layer of prestige and celebration to the overall layout. To bring this vision to life for the 2024 event at Loyola University’s Damen Cinema, I utilized a comprehensive creative software suite. I developed the primary branding, immersive environmental theater signage, and sequential Instagram carousels using Photoshop and Illustrator, laid out the detailed bi-fold printed programs in InDesign, and animated a dynamic festival intro using After Effects. The final design system successfully bridges traditional artistic motifs with modern festival branding, creating a cohesive, engaging, and culturally resonant experience across both physical and digital platforms.