Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
year
type
client
software
2025
Typography &
Print Design
Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
Illustrator, Photoshop
the brief
For this project, I set out to capture the color, rhythm, and wonder of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta - without using a single image. The challenge? Tell the story of this world-famous event using only typography.
Each postcard explores how type can move, float, and fill space just like the balloons themselves. By experimenting with scale, contrast, and composition, I transformed letterforms into shapes that feel alive, creating motion and atmosphere through nothing but text. The result is a series that celebrates energy, play, and the pure joy of design.
Ideation
This project began as a deep dive into how typography can move, shape, and fill space. I experimented with type as form, seeing how letterforms could fit inside shapes, stretch around curves, or create movement through composition. My goal was to design something organic and expressive, without feeling boxed-in or overly structured.
Once I moved into Illustrator, I used reference photos from past Balloon Fiestas to explore new perspectives - like how type might appear from a side angle or even inside a balloon. These experiments helped me discover the playful balance between abstraction and legibility.
The final color palette tied everything together: bold, nostalgic, and a little bit whimsical. It's formed from primary hues with a cool accent to add contrast and depth, capturing the sense of childlike wonder that makes the Balloon Fiesta so special.
Deliverables
The final postcard series captures the movement, energy, and joy of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta through expressive, type-driven compositions. A playful, nostalgic color palette ties the set together, creating a cohesive and uplifting visual experience.
