Portfolio show — VIp invite
UI/UX | Production
THE BRIEF
Create an exclusive invitation for the Seattle Central Creative Academy’s annual portfolio show that stands out and both drives awareness and builds excitement for the event.
THE SOLUTION
A uniquely shaped kaleidoscope box that unfolds to reveal event details
THE APPROACH
Portshowlio is an opportunity to showcase the graduating class’ work to the Seattle design community. The VIP invitation, which was sent to 40 advertising agencies and other key figures in the design community, needed to capture attention and encourage attendance to the event.
I wanted this invitation to be an experience. The “box” had to inspire curiosity and physical engagement, and it had to have several elements of interaction to highlight our classes’ clever approach to solving everyday design problems. The result is a box that’s also a prism. The top has a triangle-shaped aperture that invites people to “take a look,” through which they’ll discover that the box is actually a kaleidoscope. The box can be pulled apart into two pieces with the inside folding out like a flower to display details about the portfolio show. The VIP invite is highly interactive; a different approach to traditional invitations and a physical embodiment of the Portshowlio brand.
The dieline I was working with was completely custom and very interactive — the two prism shapes needed to nest with enough friction to hold the box together without being too much to make it difficult to separate. Using heavyweight paper required each side to be printed individually. Crease lines were laser cut and then the whole dieline had to be cut out, again with the laser cutter. A glossy spray for the outside of the box and then glueing and assembling the box up to finish it. This was a complete exercise in project management, production and patience. It was very satisfying to see a lofty idea develop into a tangible experience that will hopefully give our graduating class clout.