Visitation School is a private Catholic gradeschool, with an all-girls high school, in Mendota Heights. Its annual Merrie Market gala fundraiser is the biggest event of their year, celebrating the school and its values. Each year a new theme needs to balance a great party that builds excitement with the school's priorities and virtues. When the event chairs wanted to do a Mardi Gras theme, that balance was a challenge and a joyful opportunity.

I did some deep dive research into the communities formed around historical Carnival in New Orleans to bring the foundations of our event's branding away from more modern, less family-friendly messaging. Clubs and Krewes hosting masked balls, playing music, and carrying decorated umbrellas down the street paired perfectly with Visitation's prime virtue that year: Joyful Optimism.

I took the color palette into brighter yellows, greens and purples, a departure from the school's red and black branding. I illustrated an event logo and graphic pieces to scatter throughout and inform all the communications pieces. The invitation was a tri-fold from a die-cut umbrella, and masks appeared everywhere at the event. The branding extended from signage small and large to web graphics, specialty golf umbrellas as gifts and even an ice sculpture.