The Adelaide Fringe Poster Competition is a long-standing creative tradition, known for launching emerging artists and shaping the visual identity of one of the world’s most celebrated arts festivals. For 2010, artist David Capriotti’s winning concept that was inspired by the idea of “think big, act small” and the iconic phrase “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”, introduced a playful astronaut theme that quickly became synonymous with the festival.
To bring this bold campaign to life, we were engaged to transform the award-winning artwork into large-scale inflatable installations positioned across Adelaide. The goal was to turn the campaign into real-world landmarks that captured attention, built excitement, and amplified the festival atmosphere throughout the city.
Each inflatable astronaut was carefully developed to reflect the distinctive campaign design, including the quirky tutu detail that made the characters unique. Built for large-scale outdoor environments, the inflatables were engineered with multiple tethering points for stability, with one installation even suspended from the side of a building to maximise visual impact.
As daylight faded, internal illumination transformed the astronauts into glowing figures against the skyline, extending their presence into the evening and creating a striking visual spectacle. Acting as wayfinding landmarks, photo opportunities, and festival icons, the giant inflatable astronauts helped turn the Adelaide Fringe into a city-wide celebration that was impossible to miss.
