Arkalalah

ARKALALAH

Arkalalah, a beloved annual fall festival in Arkansas City, Kansas, has been a community staple since 1928. Known for its parades, food vendors, carnival rides, and craft fairs, the event brings together locals and visitors to celebrate the spirit of small-town community during the last full weekend of October.

Client

Arkansas City, KS

Service

- Logo Design
- Brand Application
- Community Engagement Design

Project Overview

During my time at Cowley College in Arkansas City, I had the unique opportunity to design the official logos for the 2022 and 2023 Arkalalah festivals. These projects marked some of the first times I was compensated for my design work, making it especially rewarding to see my designs displayed throughout the town during the festival. From posters and banners to merchandise and advertisements, my work became an integral part of this cherished event.

Design Process

1. Research & Concept Development

We met with the Arkalalah Theme Committee to learn more about their vision for the upcoming event and the ideals they wanted to shine through a logo.

2. Wireframing & Prototyping

Using Figma, we designed wireframes and prototypes for the HUD and rover UIs, focusing on clarity and ease of use.

3. Collaboration & Proposal

We collaborated with Columbia University to ensure seamless UI communication and secured NASA's approval for the next phase.

4. Unreal Engine Development

In Spring 2025, we’ll develop the UI in Unreal Engine, using NASA’s telemetry data for realistic simulations.

Tools Used

Figma (UI Design & prototyping)
Unreal Engine (UI Development)
NASA Telemetry Data

Key Takeaways

Improved typography, composition, and conceptual depth through iterative design.
Seeing my designs celebrated throughout the town reinforced the power of graphic design to connect with audiences.
Comparing my work from 2022 and 2023 highlighted significant growth and inspired confidence in my ability to evolve as a designer.