Hatfield House

Musical time travel brochure design

The brief

Hatfield House Music Festival is an annual event held at the historic Hatfield House in Hertfordshire. Now in its 13th year, the festival celebrates a wide range of classical music performed in one of the UK’s most striking historic venues. The 2024 theme, Musical Time Travel, invited audiences to experience a journey through centuries of music, from the works of Dowland, once the composer in residence at Hatfield, to contemporary compositions. We have worked with Hatfield House since 2017.

For the 2024 festival, the brief was to design an 8-page closed gate-fold brochure that would act as both an informative guide and a keepsake for attendees. The design needed to reflect the theme Musical Time Travel while complementing the visual identity established in previous years. It also needed to balance the historic character of Hatfield House with a clear, modern layout that presented essential event information, including the programme schedule, booking details, and acknowledgements.

Design elements for Hatfield House brochure

Outdoor Poster advert for Hatfield House music festival

Our approach

From reflecting Hatfield House’s historic elegance to structuring the brochure for easy navigation, we focused on creating a guide that informs, excites, and immerses audiences in the festival experience. Hover over the flip tiles below to explore each step of our design process.

Visual design

We began with an existing design template, adapting it to incorporate new client-supplied text and imagery. The layout was adjusted to maintain consistency with previous festival materials while introducing subtle design refinements that reflected this year’s theme.

Fold out view of the mini brochure featuring the performances at Hatfield House

Content and navigation

Inside, the layout was structured for ease of use, ensuring readers could quickly access key details such as the event schedule, booking information, and visitor guidance. Supporting content, including acknowledgements of sponsors and contributors, was clearly presented to reinforce the collaborative nature of the festival.

Cover design of the Hatfield House mini brochure

Cover and imagery

The front cover features a photograph by Chris Christodoulou, showcasing the grandeur of the Marble Hall — the main performance venue. This image set the tone for the brochure, highlighting the connection between music, architecture, and history.

Fold out view of the Hatfield House mini brochure

Print and production

The brochure was printed as an 8-page closed gate-fold on 190gsm offset paper, chosen to give a high-quality feel while remaining practical for distribution at the event.

Results & next steps

The finished brochure successfully combined practical function with elegant presentation, supporting the festival’s identity and enhancing the experience for attendees. Its layout made information clear and accessible, while the chosen imagery and print finish reflected the quality and heritage of Hatfield House. The final design achieved the aim of providing a visually appealing, easy-to-navigate guide that doubled as a lasting keepsake for festival-goers.

Following the success of the 2024 brochure, we look forward to continuing to support Hatfield House Music Festival in future years. We’ll continue to refine and evolve the design approach in line with each new theme, ensuring the festival’s printed materials remain consistent, engaging, and reflective of its long-standing cultural reputation.

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