Henna
Key Art for a short film.
Art Direction / Design / Illustration / Motion Client: Basma Khalifa / Zola Films Year: 2024/25
Here, henna is more than decoration -
it’s a map of the film’s world, its characters, and their journey.
This was a passion project - Collaborating with Sudanese filmmaker Basma Khalifa made it even more meaningful, as it was an opportunity to represent my culture and heritage through design. I worked on the poster for her short film, Henna, visually capturing its themes of connection, transformation, and tradition through intricate henna-inspired patterns.
Key Art
The design weaves flowing, organic lines into a scene. A figure standing within a patterned space that reflects the film’s settings. Elements fade in and out, mirroring the ephemeral nature of henna. Inspired by traditional henna designs, the illustration conveys fluidity and continuity while adding a sense of intrigue and magic.
We created three versions, each in a different colour, with our protagonist in the same spot. The henna patterns change across each version, reflecting the ever-changing nature of henna—unique for each person and carrying its own story.
Social
To accompany the posters, I also designed a suite of social media posts, both static and motion, to bring the project to life across platforms and provide Basma with additional elements to market the film.
