Dublin Theatre Festival Website

2023

Designed by Rachel Copley McQuillan and Stina Sandström at Bureau Bonanza

Development: Alex Bradley

Categories: Website

Industry: Cultural

Tags: Typography / Digital / Art direction / Campaign / Festival / Theatre / Event / Programme

Website: dublintheatrefestival.ie/

Dublin Theatre Festival presented us with a unique challenge; developing a website that could endure over the years, upholding a robust integrity while serving as a flexible canvas for each annual festival campaign update.

The primary surge in traffic occurs during the festival season, leaving the remainder of the year relatively tranquil. Recognising an untapped opportunity, we aimed to transform the site into a year-round hub for theatre enthusiasts, offering a wealth of information on news, events, and the extensive 65-year archive.

Our design concept draws inspiration from the theatrical realm, specifically the notion of stage curtains opening and closing. For the desktop version, we structured the layout around a central axis, incorporating animated page transitions that mimic the movement of curtains on a stage.

The enduring design maintains a high-contrast, minimalistic black and white typographic scheme throughout the year. Colours, images, and elements from each annual campaign are exclusively applied during the festival season. This Universal Design not only enhances legibility and usability but also ensures a consistent structure that users can easily navigate and comprehend year after year.

In addition to aesthetics, prioritising information accessibility was crucial. Collaborating with developer Alex Bradley, we implemented an extensive itemised menu and a sophisticated filtering system for all events. This multifaceted approach provides users with various ways to view and engage, enhancing their overall experience on the site.