The Challenge: An Invitation That Tells a Story

Returning for a second year, the school’s team arrived with a clear vision: many community members did not know its history, so the gala needed to show the journey from a single small classroom to a full institute and school. Trillion was asked to translate that butterfly concept into an eye-catching, die-cut invitation and a full event branding system.

Cooke School and Institute is a New York City private school whose Food for Thought gala, held at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, featured a strolling supper from more than 20 of the city’s most celebrated chefs.

The Solution: Die-Cut Invitation and Event Branding

Trillion designed an intricately cut gatefold of two butterfly wings that enclose the invitation and close at the body, using ornate lines that echo an elegant serif typography and the blues and greens of the Cooke palette to retain brand equity. For the venue, Trillion again produced large-scale window clings, this time filled with student drawings of butterflies, plus signage identifying the chefs and their restaurants, tabletop centerpieces, posters, main stage backgrounds, and step and repeat backgrounds.

Results

The event sold out for the second year in a row, and the school exceeded its fundraising goal by $150,000. The invitation was widely praised, with many attendees calling it the most beautiful invite they received all year.