Invitation Design can and should be a lot more creative than:

• Why:
• When:
• Where:
• What:

How far can you get outside the box of what an invitation can be or look like?

Remember: Epic Design Quests require documentation of your entire design process. Be sure you are very familiar with the design process before beginning any Epic Quest.

3rd Party Invitation Designs Gallery

Student Invitation Design Gallery coming soon

Create your new project page titled Invitation Design. Now copy and paste the following as you will need to complete and correctly document these 7 steps on the your design process:

1. Understand the Problem
2. Research and Investigate
3. Generate Possible Solutions
4. Select AND DEVELOP Best Solution 
5. Model and Prototype (Create)
6. Test and Evaluate
7. Produce

OBJECTIVE

• Redefine what an invitation looks like.
• Push the boundary of what can be created and distributed as an invitation or announcement.
• Explore new non-traditional mediums to utilize in the creation of your invitation such as scanned materials, hand constructed elements, and non-digital design pieces.

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

     Design Process: UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM

1. Research and record how invitations have changed over time.

• What are the multiple purposes of a great invitation (think about different types)?
• Find and post two examples of unique and inspiring invitations and note why you believe them to be an excellent examples.
• What else constitutes a great invitation?
  
• Document your resources.

Select a event, happening, celebration, opening, etc to design for and get approval from the Captain.

Your choice can be almost anything real or fictitious. Consder a short brainstorming list of ideas before choosing one. NOTE: 100 miles and  50 Gold Bonus awarded for  designing a poster that is cross-curricular and for use by another teacher. Write a paragraph discussing why you chose the “event” you did.

     Design Process: Research and Investigate

2. Research information topic thoroughly

• Show authentically researched data with cited reputable resources about your event, concept, audience, client, industry, and maybe location/time, etc.
• The more information you have about the people place concept of the event, the more inventive and creative you can be as you brainstorm design ideas.

     Design Process: Generate Possible Solutions

3. Brainstorm ideas for visual imagery representing elements of you topic

• Show your brainstorming as idea webs, clouds, lists, found imagery, small sketches of elements (at least 25 ideas, words, elements required)
• Brainstorm – concepts of storylines associated with your even
• Brainstorm – medium beyond printed photoshop and illustrator designs you can use
• Brainstorm – construction methods and materials you might use in creation stages

4. Begin sketching thumbnail ideas for the entire invite.

• Thumbnail sketches should be about 4″ sketches in sketchbook
• Sketch at least 6 different designs concepts.
• Designs must be ORIGINAL!
• Consider possible color schemes and fonts even if just in notation.
• Really think about size relationships.
• You must begin looking at how you will incorporate a non-traditional element into your design now…remember there is no rule that design must be done in the computer. You might want to ask the Captain about the book of hand made designs “Fingerprint”

     Design Process: Select and Develop Best Solution

5. Select the best solution

• notate why you have chosen it
• Finalize a new detailed sketch of best solution
• sketch the layout of entire design: front, back, sides, multiple pieces?
• Focus on color schemes
• Carefully consider fonts to be used (beware of crazy display fonts, they are often cheesy!)
• How will you create hierarchy of information? (control what is most important)

      Design Process: Model and Prototype (Create)

6. Begin production of your invitation design

• Use digital if necessary, but either way begin creating your design WITH you non-digital element applied.
• Size is completely up to you but it must be actually produced. If you are designing in Photoshop be sure your resolution is at least 150ppi and the correct size to print if necessary.
• When necessary research and develop more advanced digital designs skills utilizing all resources available. If you are using new materials and methods for creation practice as the first time never goes as you hope.
• Remember Craftmanship matters. It shows you care!
• Primary images and illustrations must be original and follow copyright laws
• Remember to take in-progress screenshots for you project page-required

     Design Process: Test and Evaluate

7. Self-reflect on your design

• self-reflect and carefully evaluate your successes and difficulties
• How could you take it further with more time?
• Ask others for their opinions and document the suggestions wether you use them or not.
• Refine or develop elements of the design that can be improved

     Design Process: Produce

8. Turn in the final .JPG and Print

• Turn file into the captain’s server
• Get final printed and mounted
• Finalize Project Page with full self-reflection
  • successes
  • struggles
  • improvements
  • what you learned
• Fill our grade sheet

Additional Resources

• still need to post these let me know if you find some great ones

COMPLETE: You need a fully finished project page included all scanned sketchbook work with captions. Turn your your finished artwork to the Captain’s Server. Finally Paste the URL to your project page below and you may then click complete.

Great Work Design Agent.

Remember to have the Captain give you your bonus loot if you created a cross-curricular design for another teacher.

MASTERY: To earn your finished mastery your work needs to be printed and matted or mounted. If its larger than 8.5 x 11 it will need to be matted or spray mounted. ask the Captain

Amazing work, Visitor.

Be Proud.

Go hang the finished piece on the Critique wall at the front of the class. Other’s need to see what you have accomplished.