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An abstract collage of layered paper strips in shades of grey, beige and muted green. White circular and leaf-like shapes are scattered across the textured, diagonal bands.

The Walker Arts Center wows us with a beautifully conceived festival identity

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Date
15 August 2012

Continuing their longstanding tradition of graphic excellence and spectacular events the Walker Art Center have recently produced this striking identity for Rock the Garden, a one-day festival within the centre’s grounds that featured the likes of Tune-Yards, The Hold Steady and Doomtree. The identity uses a monolithic abstract form as its centrepiece, created from overlaid lines and dots that form unique moire patterns when overlaid over pre-existing patterns and imagery.

Used in isolation the symbol is combined with vibrating colour palettes that create a mild optical illusion, causing the identity to leap from the page, marking out Rock the Garden as one of the must-see events of the year.

An abstract graphic shape featuring a gradient from bright blue to orange. The form is filled with a mix of white polka dots, floral patterns and horizontal stripes.
Above

Walker Art Center: Rock the Garden

A brand guidelines sheet for “Rock the Garden”. It features a black and white graphic logo, a red mini-poster, and a grid of twelve bright colour combinations.
Above

Walker Art Center: Rock the Garden

A bright blue event pass featuring a bold red abstract graphic of stripes and dots. Text at the top reads “Walker Art Center” and “89.3 the current”. Below the graphic, text reads “Rock the Garden 2012 Saturday, June 16” followed by “ALL ACCESS” in large white capitals. A final line states, “THIS PASS ENTITLES ACCESS TO ALL EVENT AREAS.”
Above

Walker Art Center: Rock the Garden

A poster for “Rock the Garden 2012” featuring an abstract, organic shape filled with swirling patterns of green, orange and cream. The shape is overlaid with a grid of white circles and horizontal stripes. Text at the bottom lists the line-up, including “The Hold Steady”, “Trampled by Turtles”, “Doomtree”, “Tune-Yards” and “Howler”. Logos for Walker Art Center and 89.3 the current appear at the top.
Above

Walker Art Center: Rock the Garden

A poster for “Rock the Garden 2012” featuring a central abstract shape with a swirling, multicoloured pattern. The shape is overlaid with a grid of black dots and a series of horizontal stripes. The bottom of the poster lists the line-up, including “The Hold Steady”, “Trampled by Turtles”, “Doomtree”, “Tune-Yards” and “Howler”. Logos for Walker Art Center and 89.3 the current appear at the top.
Above

Walker Art Center: Rock the Garden

A poster for “Rock the Garden 2012” featuring an abstract, marbled shape in beige and grey tones. The shape is overlaid with white polka dots and horizontal stripes. Text at the top reads “Walker Art Center” and “89.3 the current”. A line-up of bands is listed at the bottom, including “The Hold Steady” and “Tune-Yards”.
Above

Walker Art Center: Rock the Garden

A collage of mineral specimens with labels such as “Thenardite”, “Wulfenite”, “Calcite” and “Cerussite”. Thick, black geometric shapes are layered over the images, partially obscuring the crystals.
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Walker Art Center: Rock the Garden

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About the Author

James Cartwright

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James started out as an intern in 2011 and came back in summer of 2012 to work online and latterly as Print Editor, before leaving in May 2015.

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