Objective
The Swine Auction Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) has been a longtime Elevantics client, giving us the opportunity each year to create a completely new visual identity for its annual auction events. After the adventurous “Swine on Safari” theme in 2025, the committee came to us with another fun challenge for 2026: “Running of the Pigs!”
Inspired by the iconic Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain, the theme called for a visual identity that captured the energy, excitement, tradition, and playful danger of the famous festival, while putting a distinctly Texas- and swine-centric spin on it.
The Elevantics team took direct inspiration from the beautiful promotional posters created for the Pamplona event in the 1950s. Our objective was to develop a cohesive graphic design package that could transform the theme into an immersive event experience, from promotional materials and event signage to the gala and auction breakfast.
Developing the “Running of the Pigs” Brand
The foundation of the campaign was a custom Running of the Pigs logo featuring a proud, elegant pig dressed in a traditional, white running outfit and red neckerchief, charging forward in the spirit of the famous Pamplona runners.
The visual identity combined a warm, European-inspired aesthetic with the fun energy and personality of the Swine Auction. Our color palette incorporates warm cream and blush tones alongside vivid reds, deep burgundy, lavender, and black. Futura Medium and Futura Condensed Medium provided the typography, giving the brand a clean, contemporary foundation while maintaining the tall, poster-like character associated with classic festival graphics.
The result was a brand that felt festive and sophisticated, but still playful enough to put a pig at the center of the action!
Creating the Streets of Pamplona
The most ambitious part of the project was translating the brand into an immersive gala environment.
Rather than simply placing the logo around the room, Elevantics developed a collection of custom illustrated scenes inspired by the architecture and visual character of Pamplona. Colorful buildings, balconies, streets, arches, geometric patterns, and stylized characters became the foundation for a series of large-format environmental graphics.
Two central characters became the stars of the experience: a flamenco-dancing sow and a matador pig.
The illustrations were intentionally stylized, combining bold geometric forms with painterly textures and a limited palette that tied every scene back to the “Running of the Pigs” brand.
The Donor Appreciation Gala
The gala was where the “Running of the Pigs” concept truly came to life.
Large-format versions of the artwork were printed and installed throughout the gala space, creating the impression that guests had stepped directly into a highly stylized version of the streets of Pamplona.
The result transformed the stage into an entire streetscape rather than simply an event backdrop.
The custom architectural graphics surrounded the stage, while the flamenco sow and matador pig created larger-than-life focal points on either side. Additional screens and event graphics extended the visual identity throughout the room.
The warm reds and oranges of the artwork were reinforced by the venue lighting, while the surrounding architectural illustrations created depth and the feeling of a continuous Spanish streetscape.
The response from guests was overwhelmingly positive, with the gala design receiving extensive praise and compliments throughout the evening.
For Elevantics, this was an important part of our creative objective: not simply designing an event identity, but creating an environment that gave guests something to experience.
Extending the Brand to the Swine Auction Breakfast
The following morning, the visual identity continued into the Swine Auction Breakfast.
The breakfast was a simpler environment, but the strongest elements of the gala design were carried forward. The large flamenco dancer and matador illustrations were reused to flank the stage, creating an immediate visual connection between the two events.
Custom-printed cups featuring the “Running of the Pigs” branding added another branded touchpoint for guests and extended the theme into the details of the event.
This approach allowed the breakfast to have its own simpler visual treatment while still feeling like part of the same overall campaign.
From Theme to Experience
“Running of the Pigs” demonstrates what happens when an event theme is treated as more than a logo.
Elevantics developed a complete visual world around the concept—from the custom pig illustration and typography to the color palette, promotional materials, merchandise, architectural artwork, stage design, and environmental graphics.
The result was an event identity that could move seamlessly from a Save the Date card to a branded koozie and then scale all the way up to a room-sized installation.
Most importantly, it gave the 2026 HLSR Swine Auction Gala a distinctive personality that guests could see, experience, and remember.
Have an event that needs more than just a logo? Elevantics creates complete event identities that turn great themes into unforgettable experiences.
