This project was created as part of a nationwide competition hosted by the Florida Keys Council of the Arts. The brief was to design the official poster and T-shirt artwork for Fantasy Fest’s 2023 theme, “Uniforms & Unicorns.”
The 2023 festival marked a significant milestone, celebrating 200 years of Monroe County and the U.S. Navy’s presence in Key West, which shaped both the theme and the visual direction of the event.
The final design was selected as the winning entry and produced across festival materials, merchandise, and citywide displays.
The theme required balancing two very different ideas: structured, recognizable uniforms and playful, surreal fantasy. The design needed to feel cohesive rather than split between those directions.
At the same time, the artwork had to function across formats. It needed to read clearly at poster scale, translate effectively to apparel, and remain visually engaging both up close and from a distance.
Because the final piece would be publicly displayed and sold, the level of detail, clarity, and overall composition had to hold up in real-world use. The design also needed to subtly reflect the historical context behind the theme, tying together uniform-inspired elements with the festival’s 200-year anniversary.
The final illustration centers around a strong, narrative-driven composition that brings together fantasy elements with uniform-inspired details. The goal was to create something visually rich without losing clarity, using a clear focal point and a balanced overall silhouette.
Details were layered intentionally so the design rewards closer viewing, while still reading cleanly from a distance.
The design was created with flexibility in mind, allowing it to translate cleanly from poster format to wearable merchandise. Color, composition, and line work were all considered to ensure the artwork maintained its integrity across different materials and scales.
As part of the festival, I was invited to participate in an official artist signing event. This provided an opportunity to engage directly with attendees and see the work in its intended context.
IMPACT
The final design was selected as the winning entry for Fantasy Fest 2023 and became the official artwork for both the poster and T-shirt.
The piece was produced, sold, and displayed throughout Key West during the festival, reaching a large public audience and becoming part of the event’s visual identity for that year.
Take a look at my resume!
