For the 2024 season, I had the privilege of designing graphics for the Govenaires Drum and Bugle Corps, based in St. Peter, MN. Their program, Woodstock: This is the Dawning, drew inspiration from the legendary Woodstock music festival. My task was to create a poster reminiscent of Max Yasgur’s Farm poster, blending the Woodstock aesthetic with the Govenaires’ distinct identity and color palette.
To achieve this, I illustrated all elements from scratch, including a central design featuring a sunburst and a combination drum-and-bugle motif that symbolized the team’s spirit. I created custom hand-lettering for the program title, Govenaires 2024, and developed a full font file for the lettering, making it easier to apply consistently across various formats and graphic needs. Integrating their team colors with the Woodstock-inspired palette added an extra layer of cohesion and vibrancy.
This project pushed me out of my comfort zone stylistically, but I embraced the challenge and delivered a design that celebrated their theme and vision. I’m incredibly proud that the Govenaires went on to win the Drum Corps International (DCI) championship in the all-ages category, and I’m honored to have contributed to their success.
Categories
Environmental Design
Art Direction
Graphic Design
Illustration
Lettering
Skills
Adobe Illustrator
Procreate
Goal
The goal of the Govenaires 2024 show graphics project was to create a visual identity that would unify all stage elements, digital displays, and promotional materials under a cohesive, on-brand look. The graphics needed to support the performance, enhance audience engagement, and reflect the artistic direction of the show, while being flexible enough for varying screen sizes, lighting conditions, and spectacle transitions.
Approach
To meet those objectives, I began by collaborating with the show director and choreographer to understand the thematic narrative and emotional tone of the performance. I developed moodboards, color palettes, and typographic systems that evoked the intended mood. Then I iterated with animated mockups and stage mockups to test legibility and visual cohesion in context. I produced scalable vector assets, motion templates, and layered files so that lighting operators and projection designers could adapt assets live. Consistent feedback loops with technical teams ensured that the visuals would perform well under real conditions (e.g. brightness, contrast, synchronization).
Results
The final graphics package delivered clarity, impact, and consistency across large-format video walls and stage elements. The unified visual design helped reinforce the narrative arcs and aided transitions between segments. According to post-show feedback, the graphics were praised for their readability from all audience zones and for elevating the production’s polish. The modular files have already been repurposed for tour stops, giving the client flexibility and saving time in future deployments.
