Arts, culture and media website design in Ireland for stronger audiences and participation.
Build audiences, participation and cultural value.
Senior-led website strategy, UX, design and CMS development for festivals, arts organisations, cultural programmes, publishers and media brands that need to express a distinctive identity while making programmes and content easy to discover.
Senior-led website strategy, UX, design and CMS development for festivals, arts organisations, cultural programmes, publishers and media brands that need to express a distinctive identity while making programmes and content easy to discover.
For established arts, culture and media organisations · Focused website projects from €5k · Working across Ireland and international audiences.
For established arts, culture and media organisations · Focused website projects from €5k · Working across Ireland and international audiences.
Trusted by established organisations
[02] The business first
Creative identity and practical discovery should reinforce each other.
Creative identity and practical discovery should reinforce each other.
Before design begins, we clarify audiences, programme structure, editorial priorities, participation goals and the journeys from discovery to attendance, reading or engagement.
Before design begins, we clarify audiences, programme structure, editorial priorities, participation goals and the journeys from discovery to attendance, reading or engagement.
That strategy connects identity, storytelling, schedules and practical information in a platform that works for audiences and busy internal teams.
That strategy connects identity, storytelling, schedules and practical information in a platform that works for audiences and busy internal teams.
Start your project enquiry ↗
[03]
Selected work
Selected arts, culture and media work
Festivals, cultural programmes and publishers designed to connect distinctive ideas with real audiences.
[04] What clients get
A distinctive platform that makes participation easier.
A distinctive platform that makes participation easier.
01
Audience discovery
Audience discovery
Programmes, stories, events and practical information are organised around how audiences explore and decide to participate.
Programmes, stories, events and practical information are organised around how audiences explore and decide to participate.
02
Cultural identity
Cultural identity
A distinctive visual and verbal system expresses the organisation’s character without sacrificing usability.
A distinctive visual and verbal system expresses the organisation’s character without sacrificing usability.
03
Editorial CMS
Editorial CMS
Flexible publishing supports programmes, contributors, schedules, archives, media and fast-moving campaign content.
Flexible publishing supports programmes, contributors, schedules, archives, media and fast-moving campaign content.
Established 2010
28 published case studies
One senior team
[05] Website scope
Everything required for a stronger cultural platform.
Everything required for a stronger cultural platform.
One senior-led engagement connects audience strategy, identity, editorial content, UX, CMS development and launch so creative ambition and practical delivery stay aligned.
One senior-led engagement connects audience strategy, identity, editorial content, UX, CMS development and launch so creative ambition and practical delivery stay aligned.
01 Audience and participation strategy
02 Programme and editorial architecture
03 Identity, UX and visual design
04 CMS development and integrations
05 Technical SEO, accessibility and performance
06 Launch, training and campaign support
Brand strategy and visual identity can be included when the wider business needs them.
[06]
Process
A clear path from creative programme to audience participation.
A clear path from creative programme to audience participation.
We work with creative, production and communications teams to protect the idea while making the experience practical to publish and use.
We work with creative, production and communications teams to protect the idea while making the experience practical to publish and use.
Focused start
Once scope and priorities are agreed, we move quickly with a focused plan, named decisions and no unnecessary handoffs.
Clear stages
Work is broken into focused stages so your team reviews the right things at the right time and keeps momentum.
01
Discover
We clarify audiences, programme structure, editorial needs, current-site problems and what meaningful participation looks like.
02
Define
We agree positioning, content architecture, schedules, CMS requirements and priority journeys before design begins.
03
Design
We turn the strategy into a distinctive, accessible experience that supports discovery, attendance and engagement.
04
Develop
We develop the approved experience, connect ticketing or publishing tools, and test accessibility, performance and technical SEO.
05
Launch & Improve
We handle launch checks, train your team and remain available to support programmes, campaigns and archives.
01
Discover
We clarify audiences, programme structure, editorial needs, current-site problems and what meaningful participation looks like.
02
Define
We agree positioning, content architecture, schedules, CMS requirements and priority journeys before design begins.
03
Design
We turn the strategy into a distinctive, accessible experience that supports discovery, attendance and engagement.
04
Develop
We develop the approved experience, connect ticketing or publishing tools, and test accessibility, performance and technical SEO.
05
Launch & Improve
We handle launch checks, train your team and remain available to support programmes, campaigns and archives.
[07]
Client proof
Trusted by creative teams who value ideas and delivery.
Relevant work across festivals, arts programmes, cultural publishing and audience development.
Start your project enquiry ↗
Maeve McGrath
Festival Director
Kerry Film Festival
Steven Wood Schmader, CFEE
IFEA President & CEO
Limerick Arts Festival
Bobby Power
Publisher, Founder
Go Wild Magazines
Brainstorm facilitated a full re-brand of the festival including logo and brochure design. We were delighted with the design from first draft to completed brochure. Brainstorm were able to capture the essence of the festival and understood the key aspects that we were looking to achieve in our branding and design. We will continue to work with Brainstorm for our design needs as they offer an on point service with prompt response.
The IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards Competition recognizes the outstanding accomplishments and top quality creative, promotional, operational and community outreach programs and materials produced by festivals and events around the world. Striving for the highest degree of excellence in festival and event promotions and operations in every budget level and every corner of the globe, this competition has not only raised the standards and quality of the festivals and events industry to new levels, but also shows how event producers can use innovation and creativity to achieve a higher level of success.
Brainstorm* has been our creative partner since day one. They don't just design our magazines; they shape our voice. Their strategic input was instrumental in us winning the 'Best in the World' award in China.
2010
Established
28
Published case studies
1
Senior-led team
Maeve McGrath
Festival Director
Kerry Film Festival
Steven Wood Schmader, CFEE
IFEA President & CEO
Limerick Arts Festival
Bobby Power
Publisher, Founder
Go Wild Magazines
Brainstorm facilitated a full re-brand of the festival including logo and brochure design. We were delighted with the design from first draft to completed brochure. Brainstorm were able to capture the essence of the festival and understood the key aspects that we were looking to achieve in our branding and design. We will continue to work with Brainstorm for our design needs as they offer an on point service with prompt response.
The IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards Competition recognizes the outstanding accomplishments and top quality creative, promotional, operational and community outreach programs and materials produced by festivals and events around the world. Striving for the highest degree of excellence in festival and event promotions and operations in every budget level and every corner of the globe, this competition has not only raised the standards and quality of the festivals and events industry to new levels, but also shows how event producers can use innovation and creativity to achieve a higher level of success.
Brainstorm* has been our creative partner since day one. They don't just design our magazines; they shape our voice. Their strategic input was instrumental in us winning the 'Best in the World' award in China.
2010
Established
28
Published case studies
1
Senior-led team
Brainstorm is led by founder and Creative Director Dave Curtin. Dave works directly with clients on strategy, creative direction and delivery, supported by senior specialists when the project calls for them.
Dave Curtin
Founder & Creative Director
Brainstorm is led by founder and Creative Director Dave Curtin. Dave works directly with clients on strategy, creative direction and delivery, supported by senior specialists when the project calls for them.
Dave Curtin
Founder & Creative Director
[09] Fit and answers
Is Brainstorm the right fit for your project?
Is Brainstorm the right fit for your project?
Best suited to established arts, culture and media organisations with a distinctive programme, an engaged project owner and a need to improve discovery, participation or publishing.
Best suited to established arts, culture and media organisations with a distinctive programme, an engaged project owner and a need to improve discovery, participation or publishing.
What investment should we plan for?
What investment should we plan for?
Focused website projects start from €5k. Larger strategy-led websites are scoped around content, CMS complexity, integrations and launch requirements.
Focused website projects start from €5k. Larger strategy-led websites are scoped around content, CMS complexity, integrations and launch requirements.
Can you work with ticketing, schedules and programme content?
Can you work with ticketing, schedules and programme content?
Yes. We structure event and programme content around audience discovery, connect established ticketing routes and give internal teams a practical way to publish changing information.
Yes. We structure event and programme content around audience discovery, connect established ticketing routes and give internal teams a practical way to publish changing information.
Can you redesign an existing website?
Can you redesign an existing website?
Yes. Most engagements begin with an existing site that no longer represents the business, supports marketing or converts the right opportunities.
Yes. Most engagements begin with an existing site that no longer represents the business, supports marketing or converts the right opportunities.
Will we work directly with the senior team?
Will we work directly with the senior team?
Yes. Dave Curtin leads the engagement and remains involved from strategy through design, CMS development and launch, bringing in senior specialists where the work requires it. Brainstorm was founded in Limerick and works with organisations across the Mid-West and Ireland.
Yes. Dave Curtin leads the engagement and remains involved from strategy through design, CMS development and launch, bringing in senior specialists where the work requires it. Brainstorm was founded in Limerick and works with organisations across the Mid-West and Ireland.
Is technical SEO included?
Is technical SEO included?
Yes. Every build includes accessible structure, metadata, performance optimisation, redirects and launch checks. Ongoing search strategy and content can be added where it will create value.
Yes. Every build includes accessible structure, metadata, performance optimisation, redirects and launch checks. Ongoing search strategy and content can be added where it will create value.
Can our team edit the website after launch?
Can our team edit the website after launch?
Yes. We build on the CMS that best fits your business and provide a clean editing system, practical training and optional ongoing support.
Yes. We build on the CMS that best fits your business and provide a clean editing system, practical training and optional ongoing support.
What happens after we enquire?
What happens after we enquire?
Dave reviews every enquiry personally and replies within one business day. If the project looks like a strong fit, we schedule a short call to clarify goals, scope, timing and the most useful next step.
Dave reviews every enquiry personally and replies within one business day. If the project looks like a strong fit, we schedule a short call to clarify goals, scope, timing and the most useful next step.
[10] Start your project
Tell us what your cultural platform needs to achieve.
Tell us what your cultural platform needs to achieve.
Share the audience, programme challenge, timing and approximate investment. Dave will review it personally and reply within one business day.
Share the audience, programme challenge, timing and approximate investment. Dave will review it personally and reply within one business day.
Project fit planner · about 60 seconds
Find the right starting point for your brand, website or digital product.
Four quick choices turn an early idea into a useful project outline. Skip ahead at any time if you already know what you need.
Where are you starting from?
Choose the closest answer. You can refine the detail with Dave later.
Prefer to talk first?
Prefer to talk first?
Book a focused 20-minute call to discuss your goals, timing and whether Brainstorm is the right fit.
Book a focused 20-minute call to discuss your goals, timing and whether Brainstorm is the right fit.
Book a 20-minute call