ABOUT THE PROJECT

Skamba skamba kankliai is the oldest folklore festival in Lithuania, held annually in Vilnius since 1973. One of the few authentic ethnic music festivals in Europe, it traditionally takes place on the last weekend of May and plays a significant role in the preservation and continuation of Lithuanian folkloric culture.

I have been responsible for the festival’s visual identity for five consecutive years (2022–2026), creating a new visual interpretation each year based on the festival’s thematic focus.

2025 THEME

The 2025 edition was dedicated to songs and dainynai (traditional Lithuanian songbooks). The visual concept was inspired by historical songbook illustrations and the symbolic language found within folk songs themselves.

A collection of illustrated symbols was created, drawing from recurring motifs in Lithuanian folklore — šermukšnis (rowan), saulutė, bijūnas (peony), gegutė (cuckoo), bitė (bee), laivelis (boat), apynio pumpurėlis (hop bud), and others. These symbols form a visual system that translates lyrical imagery into a contemporary graphic language.

DESIGN VALUE

A key visual and illustration system was developed as the foundation of the festival’s communication.

Alongside this, a clear system was created for presenting the festival name across different contexts, including an updated logo for the 2025 edition, a defined colour palette, and selected typography.

The visual identity was designed as a flexible framework, capable of adapting to a large number of events and applications within the festival.

Visual identity guidelines and templates were prepared for internal use and collaboration with other designers, ensuring coherence across digital, print, and spatial environments.

SCOPE & APPLICATIONS

The visual system was applied across:

• social media identity, Facebook event templates, and social media templates

• outdoor communication (JCDecaux columns and vitrines)

• print materials (posters, one notebook, one songbook cover, programs, etc.)

• motion and video assets for public screens, bookstores (Vaga screens), city promotion platforms (Go Vilnius offices), and national television

DELIVERABLES

visual concept / key visual & illustration system / visual identity & guidelines / social media & event templates / outdoor & print design / motion & video assets