Carnival 2026 — Cultural Campaign Identity for Google HOLA
Role
Visual Designer
Duration
5 weeks
Tools
Figma
Photoshop
Client
HOLA: Google's Latinx Employee Resource Group
Overview
Carnival is a globally celebrated festival that takes place each February. A sort of huge "last hurrah" of partying, costumes, and feasting right before the traditional season of fasting begins. Google’s Employee Resource Group, HOLA, partnered with me to create a set of visual assets for their 2026 Carnival celebration.
Impact
10k
Newsletters opened
800
Event attendees
3
Global newsletters sent
The Challenge
Designing a celebratory & flexible visual system that represents Carnival, without attributing the system to one specific culture
Research
Discovering a visual motif through digital sketching
Faced with a compressed timeline, I conducted a rapid visual audit of Carnival traditions across various regions. Early iterations leaned into literal interpretations of Carnival such as heavy textures, illustrative masks, and other iconography often seen in Carnival celebrations. While these captured the energy of the festival, they felt too disconnected from the modern aesthetic required for a Google-associated toolkit. These explorations were essential in defining the boundaries of the brand before I pivoted toward a more simplified pattern.
Constraints
Utilizing the brand guidelines
Complement (not compete with) the existing HOLA brand guidelines, including assigned typography and shape language
Ensure all assets can be easily used and adapted by non-designers across global teams
Maintain consistency within Google’s broader visual ecosystem
Examples of some of the guidelines I followed while creating the assets.
Visual Direction & Concept
A pattern inspired by the colors of Carnival
Drawing from the textures and colors of Carnival, this direction uses high-energy visuals and rhythmic composition to evoke the celebratory spirit of the festival, while also featuring select imagery that further amplify the Carnival culture.
Deck templates, following the brand guidelines—flexible enough to be used globally.
Outcome
A unified celebration across global teams
The final system provided the HOLA team with a cohesive set of reusable assets that could be easily applied across platforms, creating a unified and celebratory experience for Carnival 2026. The identity was adopted across global teams and internal communications, supporting online events and digital touch points while strengthening community connection and increasing cultural visibility within the organization.
Google Video Call backgrounds
Newsletter header
Deliverables
The team required ready-to-download assets and editable templates for use across online events and internal communications.
The deliverables included:
Graphic asset system (shapes, patterns, and visual elements)
Virtual meeting backgrounds
Presentation deck templates
Internal communication headers
Sticker designs
Moodle assets
MoMA badge design
Merchandise applications showcasing how the visual system extends to items such as t-shirts, tote bags, and stickers for event participants.
1. T-shirt 2. Stickers 3. Tote bag 4. Poster
Reflection
What I learned
This project strengthened my ability to design within a complex, multi-stakeholder environment. Navigating a team with diverse perspectives and rigorous brand standards required a strategic approach to ensure every visual choice was culturally respectful and aligned with Google HOLA's global internal brand identity.