Kress Foundation Gala Invitation
A fully customized mailing set
PRINT DESIGN, TYPOGRAPHY
Objective
Create a gala invitation and mailing set for a non-profit of choice.
Process
The non-profit that I chose to center this project around is the Samuel H. Kress Foundation. Samuel H. Kress was an avid collector of Italian Renaissance paintings, and his passion evolved from art on his apartment walls into a mission to bring this art to the world.
The Kress Foundation now "devotes its resources to advancing the study, conservation, and enjoyment of the vast heritage of European art, architecture, and archaeology from antiquity to the early 19th century." (kressfoundation.org/About)
In order to convert the feel of a classic Renaissance painting into a modern design, I decided to base the theme of the gala on the first painting Kress ever donated, Peacocks by Melchior d' Hondecoeter. Also being inspired by chiaroscuro, an Italian painting style that focuses on the contrast between dark and light, I went with a rich green and gold on a white base theme, and a detail of the peacock feathers on the back of the invitation and save-the-date. I wanted it to stay classy, but also have the punchy impact of modern design. For this reason, I chose a bold font for the gala logotype.
The mailing set includes a save-the-date card, an invitation, a reply card, and envelopes for all three.
Photos 5-9 were taken by Vinh Pham.
