Yalda
2024
This project was commissioned by BBC Persian for the traditional Iranian celebration of Yalda Night — the longest night of the year, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness. Yalda is a deeply cultural event filled with poetry, storytelling, family gatherings, and symbolic foods. The channel needed a modern, engaging intro that visually represents these traditions in a fresh, contemporary way.
Design and Concept Development
To bring the spirit of Yalda to life, I began by creating a full storyboard, shaping the sequence as a visual narrative that highlights the most iconic elements of the celebration. Each scene reflects a familiar cultural moment:
- Eating watermelon and pomegranate
- Reading Hafez’s poetry
- Families gathering together to celebrate the night
Rather than using literal photography, I designed the entire piece in a vector illustration style, giving it a clean, modern, and friendly aesthetic suitable for broadcast.
Key Creative Elements
- Custom vector illustrations created in Adobe Illustrator
- Characters carrying symbolic Yalda elements (fruit, poetry books, candles)
- A warm, festive atmosphere that reflects the cultural meaning of the night
- Smooth, expressive motion to bring the illustrations to life
- A carefully developed color board inspired directly by traditional Yalda imagery
Production Process
- Designed all assets and characters in Adobe Illustrator
- Animated the full sequence in Adobe After Effects, using motion to enhance storytelling
- Created a color palette based on authentic Yalda symbols (deep reds, warm tones, festive contrasts)
- Composed the original music in an Iranian style to match the cultural tone and emotional warmth of the celebration
The final result is a vibrant, culturally rich intro that blends illustration, motion design, and music to celebrate one of Iran’s most beloved traditions in a modern broadcast format.
