IFAS 30 Year Pulication
30 years of cultural diplomacy bound in a coffee table book
A commemorative publication celebrating three decades of French-South African artistic exchange, designed to honour the past and inspire the future.
The brief
The French Institute of South Africa approached BBA to create a commemorative publication marking their 30th anniversary. Since 1995, IFAS has championed cultural cooperation between France and Southern Africa, supporting artists, researchers and creative entrepreneurs across South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi.
The brief called for a visually-led, coffee table publication featuring 30 key projects, forewords from the French Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Ambassador of France, sponsor acknowledgement, and a map illustrating IFAS's regional reach. The design needed to integrate IFAS's 30th anniversary visual identity whilst maintaining readability and celebrating the vibrancy of their work.
30 projects for 30 years
Visual language that connects continents
We drew on IFAS's 30th anniversary identity, transforming the “confetti” motif into a dynamic design element that cascades through pages without overwhelming them. The Roman numeral treatment (XXX) became a subtle watermark, present but never dominant, much like IFAS's own role as an enabler rather than protagonist.
A culturally-connected launch
The publication was officially launched by Ambassador David Martinon at Dibukafé in Braamfontein on 14 October 2025. The event brought together artists, cultural practitioners and 'Friends of IFAS' to celebrate three decades of creative cooperation. The evening included a performance by the Windybrow Arts Centre and the opening of the “Cultural Crossings” photographic exhibition.
Strategic storytelling
Working with the IFAS team, we showcased projects that highlight not just the extent of their geographical reach, but the number of relationships and entities that IFAS has formed and impacted over the last 30 years. And, of course, the vast number of innovative projects that they have enabled.
