Cultural exhibitions and programmes bring together multiple voices and perspectives, but communicating this type of work clearly in public space can be challenging. Chesterfield Makers is an exhibition of portraits by photographer Emma Croman, commissioned by Junction Arts as part of the wider Derbyshire Makes festival, featuring ten Chesterfield-based artists and makers. Heavy Weather developed a narrative-led design system for the exhibition posters, creating a visual approach that balanced an editorial, magazine-like sensibility with exhibition-style formatting. This allowed each artist’s story to be communicated clearly while contributing to a cohesive campaign. At its core, the exhibition highlights the creative practices shaping Chesterfield today, and the outcome makes this visible, accessible and clearly understood in a busy public setting.

A clear typographic structure and hierarchy was established to ensure legibility at scale and alignment with the wider Derbyshire Makes identity. Each poster was carefully composed, balancing image, text and negative space to maintain clarity without compromising the integrity of the work. The result is a cohesive set of large-format posters that work individually and collectively, shaping stories that are clearly understood, connect with the right audiences, and bring structure and visibility to an impactful festival programme.