Creating space for youth, everywhere.

The Zone is a free, drop-in youth facility for 11–18 year olds created by Zest Theatre in partnership with AirClad. Built in response to the nationwide shortage of safe and creative spaces for young people, The Zone combines a custom-built trailer, inflatable pods and decking to create a welcoming, flexible environment. Inside, you’ll find table tennis, gaming, chill-out zones and arts workshops run by professional artists. Fabric led the full branding of the physical experience including trailer, pods and signage along with a wider identity system that’s as mobile, modular and expressive as the project itself.

  • The challenge was to create a brand identity that felt youthful without being patronising, flexible without being messy, and structured enough to support everything from parties to book corners. We needed something that spoke directly to young people, cut through civic noise, and made The Zone feel immediately like their space, not something handed down to them.

  • Brand Identity, Physical Environment Branding, Spatial Art Direction, Signage, Campaign Design, Copywriting, Brand Toolkit

  • We approached strategy with one clear aim: make it feel like it belongs. That meant building a system that invited local voices in, didn’t speak over them, and had enough range to shift in tone depending on the place or moment. It had to feel energised and credible, with just the right level of polish. Professional but never too clean.

  • The Zone’s identity is built to be bold, flexible and unmistakably its own. A custom alphabet lends a playful edge with a sense of structure, while an instantly recognisable colour palette ensures standout in every setting. At the core sits a modular logo system, designed to flex across pods, print and digital; adapting to new contexts without losing cohesion.

  • In its first run, The Zone welcomed over 1,000 young people in Lincoln alone. The identity has helped it stand out as a serious cultural offer while staying grounded and accessible. With plans to tour nationally, the brand is built to scale, supporting deeper engagement with young people wherever it lands.

  • Photography: Phil Crow
    Video: Blink Creative
    Production: AirClad

 

“The success of The Zone lies in all the details that create its unique experience. AirClad’s design and Fabric’s eye-catching branding give The Zone its distinctive look.

It’s in the warm welcome and creativity of our amazing Youth Arts Workers, the passion of visiting artists who share their skills and stories, and our Core Team’s drive to bring this vision to life. It’s also in the trust of our partners, commissioners, and funders who made it all possible. Every detail contributes to making The Zone a vibrant, welcoming space where young people can connect, create, and thrive.

But most of all, this award belongs to the 1,500 young people across Lincoln whose thoughts and ideas inspired everything that The Zone is. This is for them.”

— Toby Ealden, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Zest

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