AHOY Studios turns a simple save‑the‑date into a miniature public art installation with their Graphis Design Awards’ Gold‑winning 2023 Public Art Fund party invitation. Designers Connie Koch, Denise Sommer, and Lucia del Zotto layered laser‑cut paper, die‑cut foliage motifs, and unexpected color contrasts to evoke spring’s urban awakening, inviting recipients not just to RSVP, but to peel back each plane of paper like a gallery installation. This sculptural invitation embodies AHOY’s knack for making the invisible visible, transforming a piece of mail into a tactile celebration of art.

By: Denise Sommer, Co-owner & Creative Director, AHOY Studios

Making the Invisible Visible: Designing for the Public Art Fund Gala

At AHOY Studios, we’re always drawn to projects that blend art, culture, and public engagement—and our collaboration with the Public Art Fund for their 2023 Gala invitation was no exception. This piece was not just about announcing an event; it was about capturing the spirit of public art in a tactile, dimensional form. We’ve worked with the Public Art Fund team since 2012 to engage audiences in New York and, specifically for this event, help support public art in all its forms.

A Celebration of Public Art in the Spring

The Public Art Fund Gala is one of the organization’s most anticipated events—an evening that honors the artists and visionaries who transform our shared spaces into platforms for reflection, connection, and imagination. The 2023 invitation aimed to do the same. The event theme—nature awakening in the spring and discovery in the urban jungle—inspired us to create an object that felt as carefully curated as the public installations it celebrated. An invitation is meant to spark curiosity, interaction, and delight from the moment it arrives.

Inspiration in Public Space

Our inspiration stemmed from the Public Art Fund’s own work. We were especially drawn to how their installations reshape the way people move through and experience urban environments. We wanted to mirror that sense of discovery and transformation—how a seemingly everyday object can become something extraordinary with the right lens. We asked, “How can we make this invitation feel like a miniature work of public art?”

Strategy Meets Sculpture

We approached the project not as a flat printed piece but as a sculptural object. The layered paper construction created depth and dimensionality—inviting recipients to look closer, touch, turn, and experience the invitation much like they would engage with public art in the city. The custom-designed pattern and typography were laser cut. A die-cut leaf motif interacted with the light and cast subtle shadows, reinforcing the themes of perception and space. Bright, organic colors contrasted with dark, urban tones to enhance the experience.

To make the card feel even more precious, it was held within a die-cut envelope, allowing elements of the design to shimmer through the cover—provoking curiosity and inviting discovery.

We knew our audience—art collectors, curators, patrons, and artists—would appreciate a piece that felt intentional, tactile, and conceptually rich.

Challenges + Innovation

Precision in printing and production was critical. Every layer needed perfect alignment to achieve the illusion of depth. We collaborated closely with our production partners, experimenting with inks and laser-cutting techniques—always careful to maintain legibility and visual harmony.

Balancing Vision and Client Needs

The Public Art Fund team played an essential role in shaping the final result. They came to us with a clear desire to create something unexpected—something worthy of the organization’s mission and its community of supporters. Our creative vision aligned closely, but we remained attentive to their practical needs: clarity of information, production feasibility, and budget considerations.

Impact + Reception

The response was immediate and enthusiastic. Guests shared the invitation on social media, and many reached out directly to the Public Art Fund to comment on its originality and beauty. Beyond the buzz, the piece reinforced the organization’s identity as a bold, imaginative force in contemporary art. It wasn’t just an invitation—it became a conversation piece, a keepsake, and a small-scale reflection of the kind of work they champion. Most importantly, the gala met its fundraising goals.

A Personal Milestone

Winning a design award for this piece was incredibly meaningful. It affirmed that pushing creative boundaries—conceptually and technically—can result in work that resonates widely. For our team, it underscored the importance of treating even the most functional communications as opportunities for storytelling and surprise.

What We’d Tell Other Creatives

Don’t be afraid to think dimensionally—literally and figuratively. A strong concept is everything. Nail that, and the rest will follow. How something feels in your hands, how it interacts with light, how it surprises someone who thinks they’ve seen it all—that’s where the magic happens. And always, the right production partner is worth their weight in gold.

Looking Ahead

As designers, we believe the future lies in blurring boundaries—between digital and physical, between design and sculpture, between message and experience. Projects like this remind us that even the simplest format, like an invitation, can carry the spirit of something much larger. And that’s exactly the kind of creative future we want to keep building.

AHOY Studios is a branding, design, and development agency for visionaries across the globe—working to future-proof our planet for everyone. Women-founded in New York City in 2000, AHOY operates between the USA, Germany, and Switzerland under the direction of Connie Koch and Denise Sommer, friends and partners with a shared passion for design in all its forms.

AHOY’s mission is to brand causes with empathy, authenticity, and positivity, believing that a positive mindset fosters positive change. We emphasize the power of good design in service of good causes, supporting efforts across art and culture, education, environmental protection, social justice, global health, women’s rights, equity, and sustainability. At AHOY, we see communication as a superpower—an opportunity to inspire and engage both minds and hearts. Our goal is to create visual and verbal storytelling that acts as a wake-up call for those who want to make the world a more caring, inclusive place.

Over the past 25 years, AHOY has partnered with a diverse range of clients—from leading institutions to grassroots NGOs. Our work spans festivals, conferences, award shows, publishing houses, universities, theaters, galleries, cultural organizations, foundations, and government agencies. Notable collaborations include Bloomberg Philanthropies, Conservation International, the Clean Air Fund, the Rockefeller Foundation, Siemens Foundation, and various UN agencies (including the UN Development Group and World Health Organization), as well as ministries and institutions in Germany and Switzerland.

Social: Instagram, LinkedIn

Check out our other Design 2025 winners on our website!