Identity for the Festival «Fantasy Fest»

As a designer working on the Fantasy Fest project, I decided to conduct a visual research study on the theme of “Guide to Fantasy Worlds”. The purpose of this study is to improve the implementation of the festival project by exploring the rich visual language of fantasy worlds. Why this theme? The choice of “Guide to Fantasy Worlds” as a research topic was due to its direct connection to the Fantasy Fest project. Fantasy worlds are the cornerstone of the festival theme, and understanding their visual representation is crucial to creating an immersive and authentic experience. This theme allows for the exploration of a variety of artistic interpretations of fantasy elements that can inspire and inform the festival’s design choices. Relevance to the Project The visual research into fantasy worlds directly connects to the Fantasy Fest project in a number of ways: • It provides a rich source of inspiration for costume design, set design, and overall aesthetic direction. • It helps identify common visual tropes and unique elements that define fantasy worlds, allowing for both adherence to genre expectations and innovative departures. • Research helps create a cohesive visual language for the festival, ensuring that all elements contribute to a unified fantasy theme. • It informs decisions about color palettes, textures, and architectural styles that may be incorporated into the festival design. Research Methodology For this visual research, I used a mixed methods approach combining: • Content analysis: examining a wide range of fantasy art, illustrations, and concept designs from a variety of sources. • Comparative analysis: identifying common themes and unique elements across different artists’ interpretations of fantasy worlds. • Historical context: to understand the roots and current trends. This methodology was chosen for its comprehensive approach, allowing for both a broad and deep understanding of the visual aspects of fantasy worlds. Research Steps The visual research process involved several key steps: 1. Source collection: collecting a variety of fantasy art from books, digital platforms, and galleries. 2. Categorization: organizing the collected material into themes. 3. Visual analysis: examining each section for color schemes, composition, stylistic decisions, and symbolic elements. 4. Pattern recognition: identifying recurring visual motifs and unique interpretations across artists and fantasy subgenres. 5. Contextual study: examining resting places and food varieties. 6. Synthesis: combining the results into a unified understanding of the visual imagery of a fantasy world guide Key research question: How do the visual elements and navigation systems in fantasy world guides influence the reader’s perception and understanding of fictional universes? Hypothesis: The use of interactive visual elements (maps, diagrams, illustrations) and a well-thought-out navigation system in a guide to fantasy worlds increases the level of reader immersion in the fictional universe and improves understanding of the relationships between various elements of the fantasy world by 40% compared to the traditional text format. Rationale for the hypothesis: • Visual elements activate imaginative thinking and help to quickly form mental maps of fictional worlds • Interactive elements increase reader involvement in the process of exploring the world • A structured navigation system makes it easier to find and remember information about various aspects of the fantasy universe Key metrics for testing the hypothesis: • Time spent on mastering the main elements of the world • Accuracy of reproduction of information about the world after familiarization with the guide • Level of user satisfaction from interaction with the guide • Ability of users to establish connections between various elements of the world.