Illustrated branding for exhibition

Client

Museum of Oxford

Project Background

This illustrated branding for an exhibition at the Museum of Oxford was created for the project titled “Dive In: A History of River Swimming in Oxford”, a temporary display exploring the city’s long relationship with its rivers. The project included an exhibition logo, a fully illustrated poster, and the delivery of separate artwork assets so they could be adapted across interpretation boards, social media, and digital platforms such as the museum’s podcast.

During the pandemic summers of 2020 and 2021, when travel was restricted, river swimming in Oxford experienced a dramatic revival. The city’s rivers and meadows became its own version of a seaside resort, drawing residents back to the water. In the wake of this renewed interest, the Museum of Oxford set out to rediscover the history of these swimming spots, many of which had faded from public memory—places like Tumbling Bay, Long Bridges, Parson’s Pleasure and Dame’s Delight.

The illustrated branding for the exhibition drew on this sense of rediscovery. The poster design combines swimmers, trees, and local wildlife in a layered composition that moves from the busy surface of the water to the life beneath it. A palette of soft blues and greens was chosen to evoke freshness and depth, while maintaining a calm and inclusive tone.

The illustration integrates with the exhibition title, using a diver to form part of the lettering. This helped to create a cohesive visual identity across printed and digital materials, giving the exhibition a distinct, recognisable character.

Together, the illustrations, logo and supporting artwork helped to bring the story of Oxford’s river swimming culture to life – bridging history and contemporary experience through accessible design. The result is an example of illustrated branding for exhibitions that connects local heritage with present-day community life.

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