AIFF ’26
The Arewa Islamic Finance Forum 2026, convened by IFING Media, brought bankers, regulators, scholars and entrepreneurs together in Kano for five days. Graphcent gave the forum its full visual presence: creative direction, design execution and print consultation, from the first countdown post to the last certificate.
The brief
A forum on the journey of Islamic finance from awareness to adoption and advocacy, with banking, capital markets, pensions, takaful and estate planning on the agenda. It needed to look credible to institutions, welcoming to the public, and consistent everywhere attendees met it: online before the event, at the gate, in the hall and in their hands.
The approach
One system, carried everywhere. A geometric pattern drawn from arches and Arewa motifs, a palette of forest, navy, green, terracotta and sand, and one bold headline style. We set the rules, designed every piece, and worked with the printers so the colours on the banners matched the screens.
Scope
- 01Creative directionThe visual system for the forum: pattern, palette, type and how they flex.
- 02Social campaignCountdowns, speaker cards, ticket launch, venue reveal, exhibitors and sponsors.
- 03Stage & venueStage design, marquee hall banners and the outdoor wayfinding flow.
- 04Print kitBadges, agenda and programme, certificates, notebooks and gift bags.
- 05Print consultationMaterials, sizes and colour checks with the printers, so everything arrived right.
01 Campaign
BEFORE THE DOORS
OPENED.
The forum started online: countdowns, speaker cards, ticket launches, the venue reveal and calls for exhibitors and sponsors, all in one recognisable look.
02 Stage & venue
FULL VISIBILITY,
GATE TO STAGE.
03 Print
IN EVERY
ATTENDEE’S HANDS.
Badges, booklets, certificates, notebooks and gift bags, with print consultation so each piece came back from the printer the way it was designed.
04 Colour
THE FORUM’S
PALETTE.
Forest and navy for authority, green for growth and the faith, terracotta and sand for warmth and the region. Tap a colour to copy it.
05 The report
FROM A BLANK
CANVAS TO A
FULL EVENT.
Ahmad Abdallah, Graphcent’s creative director, on seeing months of work come to life at AIFF ’26: the visual identity, social creatives, stage design, venue branding, digital assets and print production.
READ IT ON LINKEDINGood design isn’t just about making things look beautiful. It’s about creating experiences.
Then & now
TWO YEARS,
ONE FORUM.
In November 2024 the event was the Arewa Islamic Finance Summit (AIFs), and Ahmad designed its branding. In 2026 it came back as a forum, and Graphcent delivered its whole visual presence. The two reels, side by side.
06 Deliverables
WHAT WE
DELIVERED.
Campaign
- Countdown posts
- Speaker announcements
- Ticket launch
- Venue reveal
- Exhibitor and sponsor posts
Venue
- Stage design
- Marquee hall banners
- Outdoor wayfinding banners
- Registration point
- Partners wall
- Badges and lanyards
- Agenda and programme booklets
- Certificates
- Notebooks
- Gift bags
- Print consultation
Have a project in mind?
TELL US WHAT
YOU’RE BUILDING.
Launching, changing or starting something. Send a short note and we will come back with questions, a scope and a number.
SEND US A BRIEF