The infamous Backstage Book.
Sydney Opera House
Working in Sydney Opera House’s creative studio meant moving between two responsibilities: maintaining a much-loved institution’s brand, and giving individual shows a character of their own. As a junior creative, I designed and illustrated work for performances spanning classical music, independent theatre, circus and cabaret, alongside projects for the House itself. The common thread was a clear, contemporary approach, often with a subtle wink to the audience. It needed to feel considered, but welcoming. Many projects came with modest budgets, which made resourcefulness part of the brief.
My Role
Designer, Illustrator
Deliverables
Branding, Creative Identity, Print, OOH and Digital Marketing, Merchandise, Spatial Design
Outcomes & Success
The Black Book was a finalist in the 2019 AGDA Awards.
- Designer, Illustrator
- Branding, Creative Identity, Print, OOH and Digital Marketing, Merchandise, Spatial Design
- The Black Book was a finalist in the 2019 AGDA Awards.
Case Study 1/4
The Black Book
The brief began with a practical task: organise the loose information sheets supplied to performers in the Opera House dressing rooms. But knowing who might pick it up (think anyone from André Rieu to the Wu-Tang Clan), we saw an opportunity to make something worth exploring. A fabric-covered folder, tactile stocks, rich inks and tucked-away insider details turned essential information into a welcoming introduction to the House. Designed for easy updates, it quickly became a small piece of backstage lore itself.
Case Study 1/4
Case Study 2/4
Unwrapped
‘Unwrapped’ brought independent artists to the Opera House across a varied programme of performances. We developed a visual identity that could hold anything from interpretive dance to absurdist comedy, while accommodating different styles of supplied photography. The challenge was to give the series a recognisable presence and still leave room for each artist’s work to have its own character.
Case Study 2/4
Case Study 3/4
Horror
‘Horror’ needed a programme that could double as a souvenir of its unsettling performance. With a modest budget, the impact came from a few deliberate print decisions. A trimmed cover revealed only part of the screaming face used in the campaign, while unexpected text layouts and film-inspired credits carried the tension inside. Small details gave the piece a suitably uneasy character.
Case Study 3/4
Case Study 4/4
Assassins
With ticket sales in need of a lift, I was asked to develop new creative for the musical ‘Assassins’, at short notice. A Saul Bass-inspired illustration brought its sinister American carnival setting into focus: a toy gun, an inverted flag and a theatrical spotlight. The approach gave the campaign a clearer visual hook, drawing on the musical’s uneasy mix of showmanship, politics and violence. The new design successfully served its purpose; see the very satisfying graph, showing ticket sales upon implementation.
Case Study 4/4
Credits
Completed at Sydney Opera House Creative Studio.
Creative Director: Dan Ingham
Designers: Abi Gordon
Motion Design: Mark Kilroy
Copy Writer: Jen Dobbie