NI Science Festival is seeking a designer or design agency to shape the visual identity of the 2027 festival and roll it out across print, digital and campaign materials.

This is an exciting opportunity to help define the creative look and feel of one of the UK & Ireland’s leading science festivals, working across programmes, marketing assets, schools materials and branding.

• Contract period: July 2026 – March 2028
• Submission deadline: Thursday 28 May 2026, 4pm

We’re looking for bold, accessible and imaginative design thinking with strong experience in branding, print and campaign design.

Submit proposals to: info@nisciencefestival.com and sarah@nisciencefestival.com

Information for Applicants

Overview

NI Science Festival (NISF)

NISF is one of the UK and Ireland’s leading science festivals, delivering an extensive programme of events across Northern Ireland, engaging audiences of all ages with science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM).  www.nisciencefestival.com 

Contract Period

The contract will commence in July 2026 and run through to March 2028, covering the full design and branding cycle.  Subject to successful delivery, the contract may be extended annually.

Submission details

Proposals must be submitted via email with the subject line: ‘Tender: NISF Design and Branding Services’

Submission deadline Thursday 28 May 2026 at 4pm.  

Submissions should include all requested documentation and not exceed 10MB.

Queries

All clarifications and questions must be submitted by email no later than 21 May 2026.

About NI Science Festival

www.nisciencefestival.com 

Northern Ireland Science Festival is a flagship cultural and educational event, typically held annually in February, featuring:

• Talks, workshops, exhibitions and performances
• Partnerships with universities, industry, and cultural organisations
• Engagement across schools, families, young people, and adult audiences
• A strong commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and regional reach

The Festival plays a key role in:

• Promoting STEAM skills and careers
• Supporting public understanding of science
• Showcasing Northern Ireland as a hub of innovation

Scope of Service – Design Services Tender (NI Science Festival 2027)

The NI Science Festival is seeking a designer or design agency to deliver a cohesive and high-quality visual identity for the 2027 festival, with the rollout of this identity across all key festival materials and platforms.

Visual Identity

The appointed designer/agency will be required to create the overall look and feel for the 2027 festival programme, with consideration for longevity and adaptability for future years.  This will include:

• Development of a refreshed visual identity for the 2027 festival which compliments the themes of the festival 
• Exploration and specification of typography, colour palettes, imagery, and overall visual language
• Creation of clear and practical brand guidelines to ensure consistency across all applications

We are open to designers collaborating with an illustrator, particularly in the development of a hero image or key visual. This reflects the approach taken in previous schools’ programmes and is welcomed where it enhances the overall creative concept.  You can see previous examples of the look of our printed programme identity’s here – https://nisciencefestival.com/archive/ 

Programme Design and Print Management

• Design of the festival’s printed programme (approximately 40-50 pages – examples of previous programmes can be seen here – https://nisciencefestival.com/archive/ )
• Preparation of artwork to print ready standard
• Coordination of the print process, including liaising with printers to ensure value for money, appropriate specifications and adherence to timelines.  To adhere to our funders we must receive 3 quotes from printers.  

Marketing and Campaign Assets

• Design and rollout of external marketing materials, including billboards and Adshels
• Creation of digital assets for our Marketing Manager and team to use across website and social media platforms

Schools Programme

• Design of printed and folded schools programme/poster
• Preparation of final artwork for print
• Coordination of the print process, including liaising with printers to ensure value for money, appropriate specifications and adherence to timelines.  To adhere to our funders we must receive 3 quotes from printers.  

Working Approach

The appointed designer/agency will work collaboratively with the NI Science Festival team to ensure all outputs are delivered to a high standard, on schedule, and aligned with the festival’s ambition to engage diverse audiences.

Budget
The indicative budget for this work is in the region of £7000.00 (excl. VAT), inclusive of all design, artwork, and project management costs.

Applicants are asked to provide a detailed breakdown of fees across the different elements of the scope. 

Additional Creative Direction and Support

Applicants are also requested to include a separate quotation for any additional creative direction or ongoing design support that may be required beyond the core scope as outlined above.

The successful designer/agency will be expected to work collaboratively with the NI Science Festival team, ensuring all outputs are delivered to a high standard, on schedule and aligned with the festival’s ambition to engage diverse audiences through accessible and innovative design.

Timeline:

12th June 2026 – Decision on tender

Early July 2026 – Initial meeting with NI Science Festival Team

August 2026 – Presentation of initial design concepts and visual identity direction

September 2026 – Final sign-off on visual identity and core design approach

October – November 2026 – NISF Team provides content for printed programmes on a rolling basis.

Mid December 2026 – Final programme artwork approved and sent to print

Early January 2027 – Printed programme distributed across NI

Submission Requirements
Please include:

• A brief proposal outlining your approach to the project within the stated budget
• Examples of relevant previous work
• A clear breakdown of costs 
• Contact details for two referees

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