I led the design and marketing collateral for the Rise Up School of Dance Black Tie Gala, creating a cohesive visual system that supported fundraising, storytelling, and guest experience from arrival through follow up.
This project brought together branding, print design, and donor‑focused communication, all working toward a single goal. To visually reinforce Rise Up School of Dance’s mission while creating an elevated, welcoming event experience.
Project Overview
The Black Tie Gala required a unified design approach that felt formal yet accessible. Every touchpoint needed to reflect care for the community while honoring the importance of the occasion. I approached the project by first establishing a clear visual foundation and then extending that identity consistently across all materials.
The result was a polished suite of marketing assets designed to guide guests, recognize sponsors, and strengthen donor relationships.
Custom Gala Branding
I designed a custom gala logo that anchored all creative materials. The mark balanced elegance with clarity, ensuring it could scale across large format signage, printed programs, and digital assets without losing impact.
This visual identity set the tone for the entire event and established a strong, recognizable presence throughout the venue.
Signage and Banners
To support guest flow and reinforce branding on site, I created a series of banners and signage pieces used at the entrance, check in, and throughout the venue. These materials were designed to be highly legible while maintaining visual consistency with the gala branding.
Clear wayfinding reduced friction for guests and allowed staff and volunteers to focus on connection rather than logistics.
Event Programs and Brochures
The printed programs served both informational and storytelling purposes. They highlighted the Rise Up School of Dance mission, outlined the evening’s program, and acknowledged sponsors and supporters.
Designing these materials required balancing dense content with a clean layout, ensuring the information was accessible and engaging while still feeling refined.
Sponsorship Packages
I developed tiered sponsorship materials that clearly communicated value at each level. These packages outlined benefits such as brand visibility, VIP seating, and custom activations, making it easy for potential sponsors to understand their impact and involvement.
From a marketing perspective, these materials were designed to support outreach and long term partnerships, not just a single event.
Thank You Communications
Following the gala, I created personalized thank you communications for donors, sponsors, and volunteers. These messages were aligned with the gala branding and focused on appreciation, acknowledgement, and relationship building.
This final touchpoint was essential in closing the event experience in a thoughtful and human way.
Why This Project Matters
The Rise Up School of Dance design project reflects how I approach creative marketing holistically. By considering branding, audience experience, and follow through together, I am able to create work that is visually cohesive and strategically effective.
This project showcases my ability to translate mission driven goals into tangible design solutions that support fundraising, storytelling, and community engagement.
Want to work together? Let’s connect.
xoxo,
Michaela Rae
