WARP Festival
What is WARP Festival?
WARP Music Festival was Thailand’s first-ever beachfront EDM festival, launching in 2015 at Saisawan Beach Resort, Jomtien Beach, Pattaya. The event brought global energy to a local audience, with international headliners and top local DJs performing in a fully immersive, themed environment.
As Art Director and lead creative, I was responsible for shaping the visual identity of the festival, overseeing all design outputs, and collaborating closely with international production teams and artists to deliver a cohesive, high-impact experience across every touchpoint.
The Challenge
The concept for WARP was born from a group of Thai friends, including myself, who met at Ultra Music Festival 2014 in Japan. We shared a passion for electronic music and the idea of creating an event in Thailand that captured the same level of energy and international appeal.
We built WARP from the ground up using our own skill sets. My focus was on developing a strong, visually-led brand that could compete on a global level. As this was the first event of its kind in Thailand, the challenge was not just about standing out. It was about building trust with sponsors, securing top-tier talent, and attracting an audience without the backing of an established brand.
I led the creative concept, name development, and branding proposal, and played a key role in pitching to sponsors and vendors by delivering visuals that clearly communicated the scope and potential of the festival.
The Concept and Theme
The name “WARP” symbolised fast, thrilling movement, like being transported to another dimension. I developed the annual theme concept, beginning with “The Madness on Mars” in 2015, where the festival was presented as a landing on a surreal planet. Each year introduced a new destination, giving us creative space to reimagine the experience visually while staying true to the brand story.
This planetary theme became the foundation for each year’s visual system, stage design, marketing graphics, social content, merchandise, and signage were all tied to the chosen world, creating a strong identity that evolved but stayed recognisable.
The Process
As Art Director, I worked closely with the internal team, sponsors, international DJs, and production partners. I was responsible for all visual outputs, including:
- Logo and identity design
- Key visuals for each year’s theme
- DJ lineup announcements
- Stage branding and signage
- Ticket design, wristbands, lanyards
- Social media graphics and paid media creatives
- Promotional content for both Thai and international markets
I managed a team of designers and worked directly with overseas collaborators to ensure all visual assets aligned with international artist requirements, stage production specs, and sponsor visibility guidelines. Communication across teams in different time zones was key to keeping everything aligned, especially during high-pressure lead-up weeks.
The Results
The first WARP Festival in 2015 drew over 3,000 attendees, setting a strong foundation. By 2018, attendance had grown to over 20,000 people, with more than 30 international DJs featured over four years.
We successfully positioned WARP as a creative, world-class festival brand. Sponsors saw strong returns, local artists were given a larger platform, and the festival became a highlight in Thailand’s music calendar.
Unfortunately, the event paused in 2019 due to COVID-19, and our founding team later pursued individual paths. I moved to Melbourne, where I continue to work in creative direction and branding. Still, WARP remains one of the most rewarding projects I’ve directed, both creatively and personally.
