Tangier Jazz Festival Visual identity

Tanjazz reinvents itself!

Created in 2000 by Philippe Lorin, Tanjazz has established itself as one of Morocco’s leading musical events. Under the direction of Moulay Ahmed Alami, the festival entrusted Graphéine with the mission of rethinking its visual identity, with a new visual to accompany the 2024 season.

The name “Tanjazz”, a fusion of “Tanja” (the local name for Tangier) and “Jazz”, reflects the organizers’ desire to celebrate the encounter between Tangier culture and the world of jazz. The festivities take place in prestigious venues steeped in history, such as the Palais des Institutions Italiennes, while extending to the city’s streets and squares for free, popular events, making Tangier resonate to the vibrant sound of jazz.

This visual identity is the fruit of a rich collaboration between the festival and Graphéine teams. Our aim was to design a dynamic, bold and abundant identity, capable of metamorphosing over the years while retaining aesthetic coherence and renewed creative inspiration.

A logo that swings

We conceived the logo as the beginning of a system that is both visual and sonorous. Like musical notes, the letters transform into sound, creating a resonant rhythm. Initially stable, the logo comes to life when the letters form the word “Jazz”, playing its own score.

Chillax’s geometric typography, at once inviting, clean and structured, is inspired by the familiar elements of instruments such as slides and valves, evoking a harmonious link between music and design.

At the crossroads of East and West

he layout and typographic style, while modern, are reminiscent of geometric and repetitive patterns found in Islamic art or traditional Moroccan architecture, such as zelliges (mosaic tiles) and other decorative forms typical of Arab-Andalusian cultures. This combination of colors and repeated typography captures the essence of Tangier, a cultural crossroads between East and West.

Let’s plays

“Jazz is the only music where the same note can be played night after night, but differently each time.” – Thelonious Monk

The logo becomes the structure of the poster, where the notes multiply to compose their own score, reflecting the dynamic, ever-changing nature of jazz.

Let’s breathe

“It’s not the notes you play, it’s the ones you don’t.” – Miles Davis

These breathing moments are represented by negative spaces in the layout. We’ve exploited them to integrate visual elements that add depth to the composition.

Let’s improvise!

“Improvisation has long been at the heart of jazz, both as a musical practice and a metaphor for the creative process.” – Ingrid Monson

The dialogue between text and image creates a unique visual. We wanted these negative spaces to be reinterpreted with each new edition by a different artist – whether illustrator, photographer or other. Our aim is to perpetuate the encounter between jazz and Tangier, with each season offering a new and inspired artistic collaboration.

More information

Graphéine creates new visual identity for Tanjazz, Tangier’s jazz festival

Graphéine has designed the new visual identity for Tanjazz, the leading event on the Tangier jazz scene. We developed the logotype, the visual system and the complete graphic charter for the 2024 edition. In addition, we created the visuals for the 2024 season, integrating modern elements while remaining faithful to the spirit of jazz. Our work reflects the energy and authenticity of this key festival in Moroccan musical culture.

Graphéine helps Tanjazz create print media and animated visuals for 360° communication

Graphéine worked with the Tanjazz festival teams to design print media and animated visuals, setting up a visual system and graphic charter adapted to 360° communication. Our work encompasses all communication needs, ensuring visual consistency across all channels, whether print or digital, to reinforce the identity of the Tangier jazz festival.