SXSW
10 years of Titles
SXSW brings creatives together from around the world to enjoy film, television, music, and culture. Since 2017, we’ve partnered with SXSW to create opening titles that set the tone for the film festival. Each year brings a new creative challenge on how to capture the energy of the festival, celebrate its films and filmmakers, and make something that feels unmistakably Austin.
Across multiple years and many visual styles, we’ve turned the first moments before a film into part of the SXSW experience.
SXSW
10 years of Titles
SXSW brings creatives together from around the world to enjoy film, television, music, and culture. Since 2017, we’ve partnered with SXSW to create opening titles that set the tone for the film festival. Each year brings a new creative challenge on how to capture the energy of the festival, celebrate its films and filmmakers, and make something that feels unmistakably Austin.
Across multiple years and many visual styles, we’ve turned the first moments before a film into part of the SXSW experience.
SXSW
10 years of Titles
SXSW brings creatives together from around the world to enjoy film, television, music, and culture. Since 2017, we’ve partnered with SXSW to create opening titles that set the tone for the film festival. Each year brings a new creative challenge on how to capture the energy of the festival, celebrate its films and filmmakers, and make something that feels unmistakably Austin.
Across multiple years and many visual styles, we’ve turned the first moments before a film into part of the SXSW experience.
2026 Titles
SXSW
There's a lot of invisible labor that goes into making an event like SXSW happen. We’ve also seen firsthand the weight an event like this can place on a city like Austin. It’s a delicate thing to steward something beloved while protecting the identity of the community that hosts it.
So this is a simple note to the people of Austin: keep owning it. Keep shaping it. The character of a place is the reason gatherings like this are wonderful. We love it because it’s yours.
For 2026, we created titles that celebrate that relationship, using playful, unexpected imagery to acknowledge the people and character behind the festival.
2026 Titles
SXSW
There's a lot of invisible labor that goes into making an event like SXSW happen. We’ve also seen firsthand the weight an event like this can place on a city like Austin. It’s a delicate thing to steward something beloved while protecting the identity of the community that hosts it.
So this is a simple note to the people of Austin: keep owning it. Keep shaping it. The character of a place is the reason gatherings like this are wonderful. We love it because it’s yours.
For 2026, we created titles that celebrate that relationship, using playful, unexpected imagery to acknowledge the people and character behind the festival.
2026 Titles
SXSW
There's a lot of invisible labor that goes into making an event like SXSW happen. We’ve also seen firsthand the weight an event like this can place on a city like Austin. It’s a delicate thing to steward something beloved while protecting the identity of the community that hosts it.
So this is a simple note to the people of Austin: keep owning it. Keep shaping it. The character of a place is the reason gatherings like this are wonderful. We love it because it’s yours.
For 2026, we created titles that celebrate that relationship, using playful, unexpected imagery to acknowledge the people and character behind the festival.
The Cutting
Room Floor
The Cutting Room Floor
During the initial phase of concept development, we explored numerous visual ideas and "easter eggs." While these styleframes ultimately didn't make it into the final project, we share them with you here as a way for them to live on. Enjoy!
The Cutting
Room Floor
During the initial phase of concept development, we explored numerous visual ideas and "easter eggs." While these styleframes ultimately didn't make it into the final project, we share them with you here as a way for them to live on. Enjoy!
Credits
Credits
Credits
Client:
SXSW
Creative:
Coat of Arms
Creative Directors & Producers:
Clara Lehmann and Jonathan Lacocque
Art Director & Designer:
Teo Nalani
Editor and Music Editor:
Jonathan Lacocque
Title Designer:
Friedrich Detering
Designers:
Janelle DeWitt, Margaret Bialis, Teo Nalani, Xinhui Ma
Animators:
Janelle DeWitt, Kaye Vassey, Lindsey (Lux) Stupica, Teo Nalani, Xinhui Ma
Sound Designer/Mixer:
Ben Bavonese, Limes and Cherries
Provided by Scene Support Music, Matt McCormick, Laney McCormick
Song:
SXSW Designed References:
00:00 - Holland (2025)
Animators:
Janelle DeWitt, Kaye Vassey, Lindsey (Lux) Stupica, Teo Nalani, Xinhui Ma
Sound Designer/Mixer:
Ben Bavonese, Limes and Cherries
Provided by Scene Support Music, Matt McCormick, Laney McCormick
Song:
SXSW Designed References:
00:00 - Holland (2025)
Client:
SXSW
Creative:
Coat of Arms
Creative Directors & Producers:
Clara Lehmann and Jonathan Lacocque
Art Director & Designer:
Teo Nalani
Editor and Music Editor:
Jonathan Lacocque
Title Designer:
Friedrich Detering
Designers:
Janelle DeWitt, Margaret Bialis, Teo Nalani, Xinhui Ma
Janelle DeWitt, Kaye Vassey, Lindsey (Lux) Stupica, Teo Nalani, Xinhui Ma
Sound Designer/Mixer:
Ben Bavonese, Limes and Cherries
Provided by Scene Support Music, Matt McCormick, Laney McCormick
Song:
SXSW Designed References:
00:00 - Holland (2025)
2025 Titles
SXSW
For 2025, SXSW wanted to celebrate its history while looking toward the future. We revisited visual styles and stories from past titles, wrapping them in the nostalgic language of 1980s VHS to create something that felt both familiar and new.
2025 Titles
SXSW
For 2025, SXSW wanted to celebrate its history while looking toward the future. We revisited visual styles and stories from past titles, wrapping them in the nostalgic language of 1980s VHS to create something that felt both familiar and new.
2025 Titles
SXSW
For 2025, SXSW wanted to celebrate its history while looking toward the future. We revisited visual styles and stories from past titles, wrapping them in the nostalgic language of 1980s VHS to create something that felt both familiar and new.
Credits
Credits
Credits
Client:
SXSW
Creative:
Coat of Arms
Creative Directors & Producers:
Clara Lehmann and Jonathan Lacocque
Art Director & Designer:
Aaron Ray
Editor and Music Editor:
Jonathan Lacocque
Animator:
Hasan Saied
Sound Designer/Mixer:
Graham Gold
Provided by Epidemic Sound - "Hypercell" by Ooyy
SXSW Bumpers:
00:07 - Music Box by David Lowery (2009)
Client:
SXSW
Creative:
Coat of Arms
Creative Directors & Producers:
Clara Lehmann and Jonathan Lacocque
Art Director & Designer:
Aaron Ray
Editor and Music Editor:
Jonathan Lacocque
Animator:
Hasan Saied
Graham Gold
Provided by Epidemic Sound - "Hypercell" by Ooyy
SXSW Bumpers:
00:07 - Music Box by David Lowery (2009)
2024 Titles
SXSW
For the 2024 titles, we worked closely with the SXSW team to build an opening sequence that felt as distinctive as the city it calls home. We took the familiar language of the Western and turned it on its head with a wild and fun style.
2024 Titles
SXSW
For the 2024 titles, we worked closely with the SXSW team to build an opening sequence that felt as distinctive as the city it calls home. We took the familiar language of the Western and turned it on its head with a wild and fun style.
2024 Titles
SXSW
For the 2024 titles, we worked closely with the SXSW team to build an opening sequence that felt as distinctive as the city it calls home. We took the familiar language of the Western and turned it on its head with a wild and fun style.
Styleframes
Styleframes
Our team brainstormed and landed on a concept that warps the traditional western motif with fun colors, hand-drawn marks, odd photobashing, paper cut-outs, and outlandish proportions.
Art director Elena Chudoba brought humor and happy vibes to these boards. And an incredible team of designers and animators brought every character, texture, and fine detail to life. The playful, happy celebration of SX is magnified by music created by Wally and sound design by Jen Pague.
Support indie film, always!
Styleframes
Our team brainstormed and landed on a concept that warps the traditional western motif with fun colors, hand-drawn marks, odd photobashing, paper cut-outs, and outlandish proportions.
Art director Elena Chudoba brought humor and happy vibes to these boards. And an incredible team of designers and animators brought every character, texture, and fine detail to life. The playful, happy celebration of SX is magnified by music created by Wally and sound design by Jen Pague.
Support indie film, always!
Behind the Shield
Behind the Shield
Behind the Shield
With open hearts and a lens focused on education, we share these project files with you, our community, so that you may glean from them something inspirational.
Or tell us how we could have done it more efficiently! We hope our project files may help you in your pursuit of design, animation, and art; but we ask that you respect the artist in these files. In the brush strokes, in the layers of texture, and in each keyframe, sits a person who labored and agonized over their art. So, please use these for educational purposes and steal only the wisdom behind them not the content or ingredients.
Please. Thank you. And godspeed.
With open hearts and a lens focused on education, we share these project files with you, our community, so that you may glean from them something inspirational.
Or tell us how we could have done it more efficiently! We hope our project files may help you in your pursuit of design, animation, and art; but we ask that you respect the artist in these files. In the brush strokes, in the layers of texture, and in each keyframe, sits a person who labored and agonized over their art. So, please use these for educational purposes and steal only the wisdom behind them not the content or ingredients.
Please. Thank you. And godspeed.
With open hearts and a lens focused on education, we share these project files and details with you, our community, so that you may glean from them something inspirational.
Or tell us how we could have done it more efficiently! We hope our project files may help you in your pursuit of design, animation, and art; but we ask that you respect the artist in these files. In the brush strokes, in the layers of texture, and in each keyframe, sits a person who labored and agonized over their art. So, please use these for educational purposes and steal only the wisdom behind them not the content or ingredients.
Please. Thank you. And godspeed.
Credits
Credits
Credits
Client:
SXSW
Creative:
Coat of Arms
Creative Directors:
Clara Lehmann and Jonathan Lacocque
Concept Development:
Jonathan Lacocque, Clara Lehmann,
Elena Chudoba, David Reyes
Design Director:
Ryan Butterworth
Art Director:
Elena Chudoba
Producers:
Clara Lehmann and Jonathan Lacocque
Grace Lawson
Designers:
Elena Chudoba, Paige Lu
Animators:
David Reyes, Peiqing Lu, Carly Johnson,
Composer:
Wally
Sound Mixer and Designer:
Jennifer Pague
Producers:
Clara Lehmann and Jonathan Lacocque
Grace Lawson
Designers:
Elena Chudoba, Paige Lu
Animators:
David Reyes, Peiqing Lu, Carly Johnson,
Composer:
Wally
Sound Mixer and Designer:
Jennifer Pague
Client:
SXSW
Creative:
Coat of Arms
Creative Directors:
Clara Lehmann and Jonathan Lacocque
Concept Development:
Jonathan Lacocque, Clara Lehmann,
Elena Chudoba, David Reyes
Design Director:
Ryan Butterworth
Art Director:
Elena Chudoba
Producers:
Clara Lehmann and Jonathan Lacocque
Grace Lawson
Designers:
Elena Chudoba, Paige Lu
Animators:
David Reyes, Peiqing Lu, Carly Johnson,
Composer:
Wally
Sound Mixer and Designer:
Jennifer Pague
2023 Titles
SXSW
The titles celebrate the SXSW mark through abstract 3D lettering and include multiple Easter eggs for films from the prior year like, a plush rainbow, a black snake, googly eyes, an astronaut, and a reference to an Austin, TX landmark.
2023 Titles
SXSW
The titles celebrate the SXSW mark through abstract 3D lettering and include multiple Easter eggs for films from the prior year like, a plush rainbow, a black snake, googly eyes, an astronaut, and a reference to an Austin, TX landmark.
2023 Titles
SXSW
The titles celebrate the SXSW mark through abstract 3D lettering and include multiple Easter eggs for films from the prior year like, a plush rainbow, a black snake, googly eyes, an astronaut, and a reference to an Austin, TX landmark.
Behind the Shield
Behind the Shield
Behind the Shield
With open hearts and a lens focused on education, we share these project files and details with you, our community, so that you may glean from them something inspirational.
Or tell us how we could have done it more efficiently! We hope our project files may help you in your pursuit of design, animation, and art; but we ask that you respect the artist in these files. In the brush strokes, in the layers of texture, and in each keyframe, sits a person who labored and agonized over their art. So, please use these for educational purposes and steal only the wisdom behind them not the content or ingredients.
Please. Thank you. And godspeed.
With open hearts and a lens focused on education, we share these project files and details with you, our community, so that you may glean from them something inspirational.
Or tell us how we could have done it more efficiently! We hope our project files may help you in your pursuit of design, animation, and art; but we ask that you respect the artist in these files. In the brush strokes, in the layers of texture, and in each keyframe, sits a person who labored and agonized over their art. So, please use these for educational purposes and steal only the wisdom behind them not the content or ingredients.
Please. Thank you. And godspeed.
With open hearts and a lens focused on education, we share these project files and details with you, our community, so that you may glean from them something inspirational.
Or tell us how we could have done it more efficiently! We hope our project files may help you in your pursuit of design, animation, and art; but we ask that you respect the artist in these files. In the brush strokes, in the layers of texture, and in each keyframe, sits a person who labored and agonized over their art. So, please use these for educational purposes and steal only the wisdom behind them not the content or ingredients.
Please. Thank you. And godspeed.
Credits
Credits
Credits
Creative:
Coat of Arms
Creative Directors + Producers:
Clara Lehmann and Jonathan Lacocque
Design Director:
Ryan Butterworth
Grace Lawson
Designers + Animators:
Chris Ray Moberg, Mohammed Basil, Peiqing Lu, Ryan Butterworth, Steve Savalle, Wendy Eduarte
Music + Sound:
Anthony Parson
Creative:
Coat of Arms
Creative Directors + Producers:
Clara Lehmann and Jonathan Lacocque
Design Director:
Ryan Butterworth
Grace Lawson
Designers + Animators:
Chris Ray Moberg, Mohammed Basil, Peiqing Lu, Ryan Butterworth, Steve Savalle, Wendy Eduarte
Music + Sound:
Anthony Parson
2022 Titles
SXSW
We created an anthology of visual styles to reflect the diversity of films and genres represented at SXSW. There are 14 easter eggs hidden throughout the titles. Can you spot them all?
2022 Titles
SXSW
We created an anthology of visual styles to reflect the diversity of films and genres represented at SXSW. There are 14 easter eggs hidden throughout the titles. Can you spot them all?
2022 Titles
SXSW
We created an anthology of visual styles to reflect the diversity of films and genres represented at SXSW. There are 14 easter eggs hidden throughout the titles. Can you spot them all?
Behind the Shield
Behind the Shield
Behind the Shield
With open hearts and a lens focused on education, we share these project files and details with you, our community, so that you may glean from them something inspirational.
Or tell us how we could have done it more efficiently! We hope our project files may help you in your pursuit of design, animation, and art; but we ask that you respect the artist in these files. In the brush strokes, in the layers of texture, and in each keyframe, sits a person who labored and agonized over their art. So, please use these for educational purposes and steal only the wisdom behind them not the content or ingredients.
Please. Thank you. And godspeed.
With open hearts and a lens focused on education, we share these project files and details with you, our community, so that you may glean from them something inspirational.
Or tell us how we could have done it more efficiently! We hope our project files may help you in your pursuit of design, animation, and art; but we ask that you respect the artist in these files. In the brush strokes, in the layers of texture, and in each keyframe, sits a person who labored and agonized over their art. So, please use these for educational purposes and steal only the wisdom behind them not the content or ingredients.
Please. Thank you. And godspeed.
With open hearts and a lens focused on education, we share these project files and details with you, our community, so that you may glean from them something inspirational.
Or tell us how we could have done it more efficiently! We hope our project files may help you in your pursuit of design, animation, and art; but we ask that you respect the artist in these files. In the brush strokes, in the layers of texture, and in each keyframe, sits a person who labored and agonized over their art. So, please use these for educational purposes and steal only the wisdom behind them not the content or ingredients.
Please. Thank you. And godspeed.
Credits
Credits
Credits
SXSW VP, Director of Film:
Janet Pierson
SXSW Project Lead:
Gabe Van Amburgh
Creative Direction:
Clara Lehmann & Jonathan Lacocque
Design Direction:
Ryan Butterworth
Editor:
Jonathan Lacocque
Design & Animation by Section:
1. Opening
Design:
Nuria Boj
Animation:
Mantas Gr
2. Tunnel
Nidia Dias
3. Scissor Carnival
Robert Kaniszewski
Design & Animation:
Florian DKS
Additional Design & Animation:
Anthony Palermo
5. Space:
Ricardo Nilsson
6. Shhhh
Terence Ginja-Martinho
7. The Rubble
Ryan Butterworth
8. Horse Head
Ryan Butterworth
9. Dance Party
Klimpa // Max Moertl & Robert Loebel
Original Music:
Matt Stanfield
Sound Design & Mix
Jenna Coyle
SXSW VP, Director of Film:
Janet Pierson
SXSW Project Lead:
Gabe Van Amburgh
Creative Direction:
Clara Lehmann & Jonathan Lacocque
Design Direction:
Ryan Butterworth
Editor:
Jonathan Lacocque
Design & Animation by Section:
1. Opening
Design:
Nuria Boj
Animation:
Mantas Gr
2. Tunnel
Nidia Dias
3. Scissor Carnival
Robert Kaniszewski
Design & Animation:
Florian DKS
Additional Design & Animation:
Anthony Palermo
5. Space:
Ricardo Nilsson
6. Shhhh
Terence Ginja-Martinho
7. The Rubble
Ryan Butterworth
8. Horse Head
Ryan Butterworth
9. Dance Party
Klimpa // Max Moertl & Robert Loebel
Original Music:
Matt Stanfield
Sound Design & Mix
Jenna Coyle
2019 Titles
SXSW
This includes all four intro title sequences we created for SXSW 2019: Narratives, Midnighters, Documentaries, and Shorts.
2019 Titles
SXSW
This includes all four intro title sequences we created for SXSW 2019: Narratives, Midnighters, Documentaries, and Shorts.
2019 Titles
SXSW
This includes all four intro title sequences we created for SXSW 2019: Narratives, Midnighters, Documentaries, and Shorts.
Credits
Credits
Credits
Client Lead:
Gabe Van Amburgh
Creative Post by
Coat of Arms
Direction/Producing by
Clara Lehmann & Jonathan Lacocque
Design & Animation by
Joe Sparkes & Linn Fritz
Client Lead:
Gabe Van Amburgh
Creative Post by
Coat of Arms
Direction/Producing by
Clara Lehmann & Jonathan Lacocque
Design & Animation by
Joe Sparkes & Linn Fritz
Campbell Hartley, James Hobbs, John Long, Knifeson Yu, Ricardo Nilsson, & Ryan Butterworth
Music by
Ambrose Yu (Narratives), Wesley Slover (Midnighters), Ho-Ling Tang (Documentaries), & Chris Bartels (Shorts).
Sound Design & Mix by
Jerry Walterick
Special Thanks to
Janet Pierson, Blake Kammerdiener and the whole SX team.
Campbell Hartley, James Hobbs, John Long, Knifeson Yu, Ricardo Nilsson, & Ryan Butterworth
Music by
Ambrose Yu (Narratives), Wesley Slover (Midnighters), Ho-Ling Tang (Documentaries), & Chris Bartels (Shorts).
Sound Design & Mix by
Jerry Walterick
Special Thanks to
Janet Pierson, Gabe Van Amburgh, Blake Kammerdiener, and the whole SX team.
Campbell Hartley, James Hobbs, John Long, Knifeson Yu, Ricardo Nilsson, & Ryan Butterworth
Music by
Ambrose Yu (Narratives), Wesley Slover (Midnighters), Ho-Ling Tang (Documentaries), & Chris Bartels (Shorts).
Sound Design & Mix by
Jerry Walterick
Special Thanks to
Janet Pierson, Gabe Van Amburgh, Blake Kammerdiener, and the whole SX team.
2018 Titles
SXSW
SXSW celebrated 25 years of their film festival and asked us to create a special title sequence to celebrate the occasion.
Featuring 25 different short films from prior years, we designed 25 unique title sequences with clever animated illustrations as an homage to each short film. Enjoy the show!
2018 Titles
SXSW
SXSW celebrated 25 years of their film festival and asked us to create a special title sequence to celebrate the occasion.
Featuring 25 different short films from prior years, we designed 25 unique title sequences with clever animated illustrations as an homage to each short film. Enjoy the show!
2018 Titles
SXSW
SXSW celebrated 25 years of their film festival and asked us to create a special title sequence to celebrate the occasion.
Featuring 25 different short films from prior years, we designed 25 unique title sequences with clever animated illustrations as an homage to each short film. Enjoy the show!
Credits
Credits
Credits
SXSW team:
Gabe Van Amburgh,
Blake Kammerdiener, Kaitlin Piraro
Creative Post by
Coat of Arms
Creative Direction & Producing:
Clara Lehmann & Jonathan Lacocque
Design/Illustration:
Brian Michael Gossett
Design/Lead Animation:
John Long
Illustration/Animation:
Whitney Lam
SXSW team:
Gabe Van Amburgh,
Blake Kammerdiener, Kaitlin Piraro
Creative Post by
Coat of Arms
Creative Direction & Producing:
Clara Lehmann & Jonathan Lacocque
Design/Illustration:
Brian Michael Gossett
Design/Lead Animation:
John Long
Illustration/Animation:
Whitney Lam
Julia Iverson & Ricardo Nilsson
Style Exploration:
Naomi Bensen
Edit:
Jonathan Lacocque
Sound Design & Mix:
Sarah Krohn
DCP:
Garrett Sergeant & SimpleDCP
Music:
Drums & Tines Pt. 2
from “The Other Side of Time”
by Quin Kirchner
Julia Iverson & Ricardo Nilsson
Style Exploration:
Naomi Bensen
Edit:
Jonathan Lacocque
Sound Design & Mix:
Sarah Krohn
DCP:
Garrett Sergeant & SimpleDCP
Music:
Drums & Tines Pt. 2
from “The Other Side of Time”
by Quin Kirchner
Julia Iverson & Ricardo Nilsson
Style Exploration:
Naomi Bensen
Edit:
Jonathan Lacocque
Sound Design & Mix:
Sarah Krohn
DCP:
Garrett Sergeant & SimpleDCP
Music:
Drums & Tines Pt. 2
from “The Other Side of Time”
by Quin Kirchner
