A GIRL has won the competition to design the logo for next year’s Henley Youth Festival.
Harriet McLean, 10, was one of 175 children aged four to 18 who entered the contest, which had a theme of “Growing”.
Her colourful hand-drawn design includes a tree with green leaves, various coloured flowers and pink hearts centred around the festival’s abbreviated form.
Harriet, who lives in King’s Road and is in Year 6 at Trinity Primary School, was one of 14 finalists, including last year’s competition winner, Penny White from Gillotts School in Henley.
Her effort was inspired by her relationships with her friends and she didn’t expect to win.
Harriet said: “For the heart, tree and flowers, I thought about growing friendships and building relationships with different people and how they grow like them.
“We started thinking about this year’s logo straight after last year’s festival. We were at school and our teacher gave us some time to think of an idea and my friends inspired me.
“When I heard my name called out at assembly I was really surprised and shocked. I was talking with my friend when they called my name and I had to go up to the front. I was really happy but a little embarrassed because they had my logo on the screen the whole day.
“Art is one of my favourite subjects and I often like to go to extra after-school classes. My brother also likes art and he has lots of pens and watercolours.” Her mother, Sarah McLean, 45, who works as an interior designer, said: “I am thrilled for her. She loves drawing and it’s great to see her win. I am excited and proud of her and can’t wait to see it around Henley.
“Trinity School has been great with the art classes which has really helped encourage her and build confidence.”
Ben Hargreaves, the creative director and owner of design company In8 , reimagined the logos of the finalists and Mayor Rory Hunt then chose the winner.
Mr Hargreaves said: “I got sent all the entries and I narrowed it down to 14, which I thought were in the remit of this year’s theme.
“I was looking for creativity and how the theme had been interpreted. There were a couple in there that stood out as very good but very complicated, so the actual winner was relatively straightforward to convert into a final logo.
“The flowers, in particular, were the easy bit, but the trees were a bit more time-consuming, but it worked well to translate it from a sketch to a logo and it had to be in keeping with the theme and the original design because otherwise, it takes the soul out of it.”
Councillor Hunt said: “It has been a pleasure to see the incredible creativity from Henley’s young artists in this year’s competition.
“Choosing a winning design was no easy task, as each entry captured the theme in such unique and inspiring ways.
“The winning logo truly embodies the spirit of growth — not only in the natural sense but in the development of ideas, community and the bright future of Henley’s youth.
“I’m excited to see this design represent the festival and to see the event continue to grow, too.”
Harriet will receive a framed print of her logo at the festival’s prize-giving ceremony next year and the logo will be used on the festival’s website, brochures and other printed materials.
