Animal Ark Invitation

Photo Courtesy of Animal Ark

The great thing about invitation design is the process. Clients don’t just walk in, pay and leave. They stop and talk. You get to know them; who they are, what they represent, and their personal style. As a designer, becoming invested in a custom design is intensely rewarding. As interesting design opportunities arise I hope let you in on the process.

Currently I am working on a design for an AMAZING local wildlife sanctuary. Animal Ark is a 38-acre sanctuary and nature center northwest of Reno. They house non-releasable wildlife in natural habitats. They are open to the public and offer a multitude of educational opportunities to our community. My first memory of animal advocacy was a fifth grade field trip to Animal Ark. Since that day, twenty five years ago, my love and compassion for wild animals has grown exponentially.

Over the last 3 years I have had the privilege of designing several invitations for Animal Ark Fundraisers. This spring I was asked to design an invitation suite for this summer’s Animal Adventure fund raising event. The theme is “Out of Africa”, an homage to resident Cheetahs, Zulu, Moyo and Jamar. Four thousand invitations will be mailed to loyal Animal Ark supporters.

Executive directors and co-founders, Aaron and Diana Hiibel, where looking for a clean, organic design with an elegant flair. They requested recycled papers and original artwork. I love the look and feel of Neenah Environment paper, so I knew it would be the perfect match for the event. The art was created by my sister, the queen of wildlife art. We chose to feature a cheetah paired with a simple yet elegant African henna design.

Below is our original draft. It was well received by the Animal Ark board of directors. Now we are in the process of editing text, making font changes and contracting with a print shop. As the project evolves, I will keep you updated on our progress.

If you are a Northern Nevadan or just visiting the area, be sure to visit this amazing gem. They truly make a difference.