The brief
The Members’ Handbook is an important part of the Regatta, bringing together a considerable amount of practical information for Members — from dates, timings and badge information to facilities, hospitality, food and drink and navigating the site.
When I first became involved in 2024, Henley wanted to give the handbook a new look while retaining the character and sense of tradition associated with the Regatta. The challenge was to make a large amount of detailed information feel clear and accessible, while creating something that felt more engaging and contemporary.
The work
The 2024 handbook marked the biggest visual change. Photography was given a much stronger role, with clearer typography, improved hierarchy and a more editorial approach to the way information was structured across the publication.
The aim wasn’t to make the handbook feel overtly redesigned, but to create a stronger framework that could balance practical information with the atmosphere and personality of the event. From detailed venue information and hospitality options to maps and essential Member guidance, the design needed to remain easy to navigate throughout.
That visual direction has continued through the 2025 and 2026 editions. Rather than reinventing the publication each year, the approach has been to refine it — making smaller stylistic changes as the relationship has developed and the handbook itself has evolved. The underlying character remains consistent, while photography, pacing and individual page treatments give each edition its own identity.
The handbook is now one of a number of pieces I work on for Henley Royal Regatta each year, allowing the relationship to develop beyond a single publication and into a broader understanding of how the event communicates.
The outcome
What started with the 2024 Members’ Handbook has grown into an ongoing three-year relationship.
I’ve also been lucky enough to attend the Regatta, which has given me a much better understanding of the scale of the event and the huge amount of organisation behind what is an exceptionally busy week each year.
Seeing it first-hand has been invaluable. It gives context to the material I’m designing and helps me understand how Members and guests actually experience the event — something that naturally feeds back into the work.
The result is a design approach that has become more assured year by year: respectful of Henley Royal Regatta’s heritage, but flexible enough to continue evolving with the event.