CASS

BRAND ECOSYSTEM IMPROVING WOMEN'S SAFETY AT FESTIVALS

The rave scene was built on community and empathy, but festivals aren't always the safest place for women. CASS is a service hired by festivals that fosters pre-event community building, safety education and designated female spaces at events.

"I moved cities and don't have a friend group to go to events with. I'd feel too vulnerable going alone."

"I moved cities and don't have a friend group to go to events with. I'd feel too vulnerable going alone."

Bella, 23

According to a 2018 festival study, the presence of friends is the most significant factor influencing participants’ sense of safety. However, intentional community matters. Cass exists to build protective communities of women who uplift and actively look out for each other - attracting newbies and festival veterans alike.

"A colour palette that's not baby pink is always a win in gendered branding - and a sort of toned down high-vis which suits the safety feel."

"A colour palette that's not baby pink is always a win in gendered branding - and a sort of toned down high-vis which suits the safety feel."

Charlie Lopes, graphic designer and project mentor

The goal was to create a brand personality that feels like a supportive older sister - trustworthy, and fitting in seamlessly with the vibrant joy of house music. The geometric 'safety net' logo represents an interconnected network, paired with a chunky typeface to suggest strength. This confident energy is balanced by the typeface's soft edges, dotted patterns and the contemporary colour palette.
Conversations with Georgia Treloar, a senior designer behind large-scale events such as Pitch Music & Arts Festival, as well as user testing was a key part of the project's development. Women in the target demographic were asked how the branding made them feel, and the range of emotions they experience at large-scale events.
CASS' branding is applied across merchandise for event volunteers. On social media and web, it is paired with daytime landscape images. CASS also strives to include women of diverse ethnicity, culture and gender expression in both the visuals and the safety strategies.

"When you feel less anxious [at events], there's so many knock-on benefits - you drink less, you dance more."

"When you feel less anxious [at events], there's so many knock-on benefits - you drink less, you dance more."

Maya, 28

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