San Diego Symphony

San Diego Symphony

Celebrating a world-class arts organization

Signaling to the world that The San Diego Symphony is much more than a regional force.

With new leadership, a charismatic new music director, and a re-ignited mission to be seen as a diverse and global force, the San Diego Symphony looked to overhaul of it’s 100-year-old brand.

The goal of the 4040 work was to visually re-stage the San Diego Symphony – honoring its venerable history as a civic leader within this diverse coastal community, signaling the transformative changes that are underway, and most importantly, laying the ground work for the future.

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The Symphony's new visual identity system, designed by 4040, is the center piece of their revitalized brand. Our solution is multi-layered. The intertwined circles suggest the orchestra's exhilarating music radiating out to its many audiences. The radiating circles also suggest both the integral relationship between the conductor and the orchestra, and the orchestra and the community.

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To support The Symphony's massive undertaking of raising $120M for capital improvements, the 4040 team created a campaign for this important capital fundraising effort. THE FUTURE IS HEAR campaign is intended as both a rallying cry and an invitation to become involved. Our work included the campaign theme, tag line and design system, as well as the digital and printed collateral system needed to support their ambitious goals.

Our compliments to the Symphony for achieving this monumental task – all during the global pandemic. We'd like to think our work helped out in some small way.

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As their strategic partner, 4040 gets to develop each of the Symphony's many seasonal campaigns.

For the August 2021 launch of their stunning new outdoor waterfront performance venue, The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, 4040 developed the YOU BELONG HEAR campaign for this historic inaugural season. Intended to serve as a both an invitation and a promise of being a part of the community, this campaign came to life all over San Diego.

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Following the hugely successful first season at The Shell, the Symphony immediately began major renovations at their long-time home, Copley Hall. This meant the 2021/21 winter classical season had to go on the road.

HEAR US HERE, the campaign developed by 4040 for this winter season, welcomed the community to experience the Symphony in venues across San Diego. This campaign comes to life across multiple digital and printed materials, including a 40-page printed season program, as well as posters and other printed and digital materials.

  • What We Did
  • Visual Identity System
  • Environmental Design Language
  • Site Signing System
  • Capital Fundraising Campaign
  • Season Campaigns
  • Branded Apparel and Merchandise
Hear Us Here
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