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 during the last week of May and plays a significant role in preserving and celebrating Lithuanian folk traditions.

I have been leading the festival's visual identity for five consecutive years (2022–2026), developing a new visual concept each year in response to the festival's evolving theme.

2025 THEME

The 2026 edition celebrates the Year of the Kanklės and the 175th anniversary of Jonas Basanavičius, one of the key figures in preserving Lithuanian folklore and cultural heritage.

The visual concept was built around traditional ornaments found on Lithuanian kanklės and excerpts from Jonas Basanavičius' collected folklore. Historical texts were reinterpreted as decorative visual elements, allowing written heritage to become part of the identity itself rather than simply accompanying it. Together with stylised folk ornaments, they form a flexible visual language that connects historical symbolism with contemporary festival communication.

DESIGN VALUE

A key visual and graphic system was developed as the foundation of the festival's communication. Alongside this, a clear visual framework was created for presenting the festival across different contexts, including an updated logo for the 2026 edition, a refined colour palette, typography, and a modular system of graphic elements.

The identity was designed as a flexible system capable of adapting to the festival's extensive programme while maintaining a consistent and recognisable visual language across digital, print, motion, and environmental applications.

Visual identity guidelines and reusable templates were prepared to support internal production and collaboration with other designers, ensuring consistency across all communication materials.

SCOPE & APPLICATIONS

The visual system was applied across:

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

• outdoor communication (JCDecaux vitrines)

• print materials (posters, programme booklet, sing-along booklet cover, notebook cover, and other printed materials)

• motion and video assets for public screens, Vaga bookstore screens, Go Vilnius city promotion offices, ACM city screens, and national television

DELIVERABLES

visual concept / visual identity & guidelines / social media & event templates / outdoor & print design / motion graphics & promotional assets