Cannes Lions Live
Creative Direction
Creative Leadership
Marketing Design
Event Design



 

Context
In 2020, the global pandemic forced Cannes Lions to reimagine its iconic festival as a fully digital experience. Cannes Lions Live was created to maintain the energy, prestige, and sense of community of the world’s leading creative event, in an entirely new format.

Challenge
The physical festival, renowned for its atmosphere and global cultural impact, had to be translated into a compelling online experience at speed. The brand needed to retain its authority and emotional resonance while adapting to a digital-first audience. I was tasked with creating the visual identity for four consecutive Cannes Lions Live events.

For the 2021 edition, the third iteration and the first following the LIONS masterbrand evolution, the identity also needed to align with the newly repositioned brand while maintaining the distinct prestige of the Cannes Lions Awards.

Strategic Approach
The focus was on preserving the essence of Cannes Lions, excellence, global community, and creative ambition, while designing for digital engagement. The identity had to feel immersive, celebratory, and culturally relevant, yet clearly part of the evolving LIONS ecosystem.

Creative Solution
The 2021 event identity was developed in collaboration with external typographer Tré Seals, introducing bespoke typographic elements that brought individuality and expressive energy to the system. Alongside this, I created a visually distinct yet sympathetic identity for the Cannes Lions Awards, honouring its heritage as the global benchmark for creative excellence since 1954, while ensuring cohesion within the broader event platform.

Impact
Cannes Lions Live successfully translated one of the world’s most prestigious creative gatherings into a credible and engaging digital experience. The identity system reinforced brand continuity during a period of disruption, maintained audience connection, and upheld the cultural significance and aspirational status of winning a Lion.