Noirwich

Norwich Cathedral at night

Noirwich

Branding & Art Direction
Photography: David Drake

The Noirwich Crime Writing Festival is fast becoming one of the UK’s most popular literary festivals. Co-created by the National Centre for Writing and the University of East Anglia, it hosts big names in the genre – including Val McDermid, Lee Child, and most recently, Attica Locke – and draws equally big crowds.

Ark were commissioned to revamp Noirwich’s brand identity, increasing its profile among crime fiction enthusiasts and growing ticket sales, while showing Norwich to be the perfect – only? – place to host such a criminally good festival.

Noirwich logo design
Noirwich logo designs

Working with photographer David Drake, we photographed Norwich in the still of the night, creating a suite of brooding, atmospheric shots that turned familiar city landmarks into places of shadows and secrets.

We paired these images with bold, dynamic typography to highlight author names and festival information. The logo itself rewards the amateur sleuth – we’ve smuggled Norwich Cathedral into the negative space of the ‘N’.

Noirwich castle photography
Noirwich photography
Noirwich photography
Noirwich brochure design
Noirwich Flyers design
Noirwich poster design
Noirwich poster design
Noirwich poster design

The rebrand included logo design, brand guidelines, photography, posters, flyers and all event collateral.

Ark created an identity to resonate with crime fiction audiences, with dark and mysterious photography of Norwich underpinned by energetic typography to highlight author names and festival information.

Noirwich season pass and bookmark branding

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