A festival that brings Michael Ende’s worlds to life.
The Brief
For “Tage der Fantasie” (Days of Imagination), the Michael Ende festival in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, we created a visual identity that brings Ende’s literary worlds into the present. The goal: a look that feels culturally rich, approachable, and full of imagination.
Instead of a single logo, we built a layered design system that works across posters, websites, programs, social media, wayfinding, and motion. Many different faces, one unmistakable brand.
The Design
The “Michael Ende Festival” wordmark leaves part of “Ende” (German for “end”) unwritten, an invitation to let stories live on. Next to it stands AURYN, the intertwined snakes from The Neverending Story.
Three of Ende’s characters shape the visual world: Falkor for the sky, the tortoise Cassiopeia for time, and Emma the locomotive for the mountains. Lots of white space and a calm color palette leave room for the freedom to imagine more.
The Experience
The design creates a walkable connection between Ende’s imaginary worlds and the real Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It guides visitors physically and emotionally and gives each place its own mood, from wonder and adventure to calm.
The system is built to evolve. Each edition can bring new themes and colors without losing its core. The result is a growing visual universe that carries Ende’s spirit of imagination and storytelling.
Jays: Branding • Event • Marketing • Design
