Summer, culture and a fresh breeze from the elbe

For a long time, summer in HafenCity has meant way more than just sun, water, and nice views. It's also meant open-air concerts, readings, workshops, exhibitions, performances, and plenty of activities for young and old. What started as "Sommer in der HafenCity" has become a well-known cultural program, and has even grown beyond the neighborhood.

So, in 2022, the format got a new name and a bigger stage: Elbsommer. HafenCity Hamburg GmbH is putting on a summer event series along the Elbe. It's a cool mix of culture, creativity, and urban life right by the river.

For this new chapter, we developed a corporate design that feels light, lively, and unmistakably summery — but still fits naturally into the visual world of HafenCity. The identity had to work for many different kinds of events, from quiet cultural moments to colorful family programs, and across a wide range of media: posters, flyers, program booklets, digital banners, social media posts, and on-site communication.

The visual concept is based on fresh colors, clear typography, and a flexible signet that can be used playfully without losing orientation. It gives the program a recognizable face, while still leaving room for the diversity of content and locations.

The result is a bright and flexible design system for a cultural summer along the river — it's easy to use, easy to recognize, and made for warm days, long evenings, and good ideas.