This beautiful branding for the New York Women's Surf Film Festival was created by the talented Shanti Sparrow – an Australian designer, illustrator and lecturer, living and working in New York.

The festival, which is a project of Lava Girl Surf, celebrates the filmmakers and female wave riders who live to surf, highlighting their sense of adventure, connection to the ocean and love for their own communities and those they discover.

In terms of her inspiration, Sparrow explains: "The branding design for the fifth annual event was influenced by iconic retro surf culture and the nuanced aesthetics of contemporary film. The incredible underwater photography of Sarah Lee has been augmented with nostalgic sunset colours.

"The removal of contextual colours helped create an illusion whereby the surfer appears to be both swimming and flying. This visual double meaning is reflective of the empowering and aspirational themes of the film festival itself."

Sparrow has a vibrant and bold approach to design. She creates brands filled with individuality and personality, which transpires through every project she works on. Discover more at shantisparrow.com.

Photography by Dennis Cahlo & courtesy of Shanti Sparrow