The Relationship Between Music and Nature in Forestra's Visual Identity by POT Branding House
The serene sounds of an orchestra amidst the lush and cool forest setting is the unique experience offered by the Forestra (Forest Orchestra) music concert, held at Orchid Forest Cikole, Lembang. Returning to nature—audiences can immerse themselves in the interplay of various musical instruments crafted from natural elements, brought to life through human skill. This connection between music, nature, and human senses at the Forestra concert has been translated into a visual identity by POT Branding House, a brand design consultancy based in Bandung. To Grafis Masa Kini, Bayu Rengga, Creative Director of POT Branding House, shared the creative process behind the visual identity design for Forestra 2024.
POT Branding House’s first encounter with Forestra happened two years before they became involved in the event. At the first Forestra in 2021, the POT team attended as the audience. “Coincidentally, the event was produced by our close friends; Suasana Scenery, who have organized many events that we frequently attend,” Bayu revealed. Listening to the exquisite orchestral compositions amidst nature left the POT team in awe—with Bayu even admitting to being moved to tears—by the concept of Forestra. This experience led to lengthy discussions within the POT team about how Forestra could evolve into a better, longer-lasting event. “Finally, last year, POT was invited to continue the discussion on making Forestra an intellectual property (I.P) with branding that could sustain its longevity, in collaboration with Suasana Scenery,” Bayu recounted.
Forestra was POT Branding House’s first event branding project. This opportunity provided a challenging learning and exploration space, particularly resonating with the thoughts of Jay Subiakto and Erwin Gutawa, two pivotal figures behind the Forestra music event. After a long journey, the harmonious collaboration between POT Branding House and Forestra continued through to Forestra 2024, which is set to be held on August 31st. Armed with evaluations, critiques, and experiences from the previous year’s event, POT Branding House shifted Forestra’s perspective from focusing on the grandeur and simplicity of nature to highlighting the orchestra itself and the musicians who are the main reason behind the invaluable experience of attending the concert.
The design process for Forestra’s visual identity began with the search for a harmonious form that connects humans with nature through the dynamic movement embodied in music. As a metaphor for music, progressive motion became the primary foundation POT Branding House used to convey Forestra’s visual expression. Bayu further explained that this transformative form also encapsulates the journey of Forestra alongside POT Branding House over the years. In Forestra ‘23, the concept of "Symphony of the Great Nature" was introduced as an expression of life’s celebration and meaning, conveyed through the exploration of visual elements and layouts. Meanwhile, in Forestra ‘24, the emphasis shifted towards the grandeur of the orchestra itself, serving as an expression of gratitude for the space provided by nature. This concept was packaged under the theme "Symphony of Resonant Feelings." The idea was then expansively communicated through a blend of colors and figurative forms with an abstract-formalist approach. Despite the new explorations, the POT Branding House team retained the primary colors and textures that had become the hallmark of Forestra’s identity.
One of the standout features of Forestra’s visual identity is the use of natural elements like tree bark textures. Bayu emphasized that these elements are not just decorative but are an integral part of the visual identity that reflects the close relationship between orchestral music and the natural world. “One significant aspect is the circular pattern. Repetitive notes create a rhythm with the texture of the instruments, responding to the circular movements of the conductor as they symphonize the musicians, while nature itself is circular with its seasons, and tree trunks are circular based on their age. These two aspects create an organic beauty that becomes the anchor of Forestra’s visual identity,” Bayu explained. Just as orchestral musicians respond to the variety of music presented, POT Branding House also responds to the sounds, music, and textures by listening and then moving their hands in accordance with the vibrations and feelings received. From this, various circular graphics with different textures were born—reflecting the diversity of music offered by Forestra. “Our principle is to place ourselves with empathy, feeling the response as orchestral musicians do, also with organic hand lines that move like nature,” Bayu added.
Forestra is often perceived as a music festival, but according to Bayu, it is more accurately described as an orchestral music concert. The difference between a concert and a festival lies in the experience provided. A concert has a clear experiential flow with an opening, closing, and structured segments in between, whereas a festival is more free-form yet still conceptualized. “This is also a point noted by Mas Jay Subiakto and Mas Erwin Gutawa,” Bayu noted.
In translating the experience of an orchestral music concert into a visual identity, the most important and challenging aspect for the POT Branding House team was the immersive research process. This process pushed the POT team to deeply understand the various perspectives of the actors involved, from the musicians on stage to the backstage crew. Another crucial aspect was maintaining sensitivity to the music and its nuances—designers need to distinguish and find common ground among the diverse musical frequencies present. “Sensitivity to articulate the feel, sound, and texture,” Bayu said. Still on challenges, Bayu explained that orchestras are inherently a Western cultural phenomenon, so there is a winding path to making them feel close and relevant to Eastern culture, particularly in Indonesia. Moreover, the materials and implementation of the visual identity during the event itself posed another challenge for the POT team. A well-conceptualized design must be articulated effectively, even though there are often constraints of time, technique, and budget in the production itself. Therefore, finding a balance between the concept and the reality on the ground became one of the most crucial aspects for the POT team.
The collaboration between POT Branding House and Forestra is proof of how branding can breathe life into an event, and vice versa—how the spirit of an event can ignite the design process from concept to visual execution. In the visual identity design for Forestra, POT Branding House not only reflected the essence of this music concert but also added value to the visual experience for the audience. By bringing together natural elements, the harmony of sound, and human movement, POT joins Forestra in celebrating our connection with nature.
