In 2023, Frameline commissioned TGA to design the program guide for its 47th annual international LGBTQ+ film festival. With more than 60,000 annual attendees, and sponsors like Gilead and Warner Brothers, the expectations are high and the deadlines short. Working with original graphics from Tomorrow Partners, Grass designed and delivered the 112-page guide in just four weeks.
Before the official design kick-off, we met with the festival’s marketing, sales, and editorial teams to get a sense of established workflows, design assets, timelines, vendor relationships, and potential pain points. During our onboarding one thing became clear: no matter how much planning we did, the job was likely to come down to the wire. With that in mind, we set about creating systems for design, feedback, and iteration that proved invaluable.
After developing a complimentary visual language and establishing a new collaborative workflow, we were ready for the deluge. With the proper planning, the guide was designed, printed, and delivered with ease and on schedule. Our secondary graphics served as a jumping off point for festival signage and digital assets.
In 2024 and 2025, Frameline hired TGA to rethink the program guide, using festival graphics designed by PACT studio. In 2024, we employed a foldable map format to match the year’s theme of “Intersections.” The following year, we conceptualized and designed a tabloid, complete with salacious headlines and collectible cover, for the theme: “The World is Watching.” We also created festival signage and physical ads based on PACT’s back cover design.
In addition to concept and design, I’ve also contributed illustration, copy, and editorial consulting services.
Credits: Festival Graphics, Tomorrow Partners & PACT Studio.
