Anabranch: Alabama’s Celebration of Literature and the Humanities

Naming, Logo, Branding, Print & Digital

In 2019, the Alabama Humanities Foundation tasked Markstein with creating a completely new name and visual identity for a reimagined version of the annual Alabama Book Festival (a three-day event held each April in Montgomery). Wanting a name that was both meaningful and memorable, we chose “Anabranch”—defined as “a stream that leaves a river and enters it again further downstream”—as a nod to Alabama’s many beautiful streams and rivers. The new logo was then applied to tote bags, t-shirts, posters, book covers, bookmarks, banners, signage, and a comprehensive brand guide. Inspired by the Festival theme “Sharing Our Stories,” Markstein also created a unique illustration featured throughout the event.