About the Event
To celebrate the nonprofit’s 30th anniversary, the team needed an event brand that felt worthy of the moment—elevated, joyful, and rooted in possibility. The visual identity for The Futures Ball had to honor the organization’s mission while appealing to a diverse audience of donors, honorees, and changemakers. It needed to feel cohesive, meaningful, and full of hope for what’s ahead.
To honor 30 years of youth-powered change, DoSomething launched a commemorative brand film that premiered at The Futures Ball. I supported the creative direction for this video — developed by an external production team — by providing feedback on narrative structure, motion design, and tone.
The video combines archival content, protest footage, and portraiture to highlight how young people across generations have driven action on the issues that matter most. It served as a rallying piece for donors, partners, and the broader Gen Z audience, reinforcing DoSomething’s legacy and future vision.
Creative Scope
• Lead the visual direction, developing a refined yet imaginative aesthetic to reflect themes of future-building and celebration
• Designed a sleek, elevated system across print, digital, and environmental touchpoints — including signage, envelopes, and digital materials
• Balance whimsy and polish to create an experience that felt fresh and youthful while appealing across generations
• Collaborated with design contractors and vendors to execute assets
The Goal:
Honor the Past, Celebrate the
Present, and Imagine a Brighter Future
Futures Ball moodboard: a vibrant, intentionally eclectic maximalist approach
Branding Results
To set the tone for a night of future-facing celebration, we developed a tactile invitation system that balanced polish with imagination. The invites were wrapped in teal vellum and enclosed in a shimmering four-flap silver envelope, creating a memorable unboxing moment that hinted at the event’s tone. Printed on thick, quality paper stock, the suite included RSVP and sponsorship cards designed to inform and impress prospective donors.
This system was executed in collaboration with a design contractor and coordinated with external print vendors to ensure impact within nonprofit budget constraints.
To build excitement ahead of the event and connect with DoSomething’s core audience (ages 15–25), we created branded social graphics to announce special guests and honorees.
These featured youth changemakers with strong digital followings and a clear track record of cause-related impact, chosen to inspire and resonate across a multigenerational supporter base.
Violinist Kersten Stevens sets the tone for the evening with a powerful live performance, opening The Futures Ball.
Programming for The Futures Ball was designed to be moving and memorable. The evening opened with a performance by acclaimed violinist Kersten Stevens, whose live set merged classical skill with dynamic stage presence.
Visual production — including coordinated lighting, projection screens, and atmospheric staging — ensured every guest could feel immersed in the performance, no matter where they were seated. This thoughtful fusion of talent and environment helped set the tone for a night of bold celebration and youth-led inspiration.
The DoSomething team brought style, joy, and power to the red carpet at The Futures Ball: our biggest night celebrating youth changemakers and visionary storytelling.
The branded step-and-repeat experience was an intentional touchpoint for guest celebration, media capture, and visual storytelling. From logo placement to lighting and layout, every element of the red carpet environment was designed to reinforce the gala’s identity and create high-impact, shareable moments for teams and talent alike.
The DoSomething team brings the energy to The Futures Ball photo booth — from sparkles to sequins, every detail was designed to reflect the bold, joyful spirit of the night.
As part of the event branding, we collaborated with the photo booth vendor to ensure every visual detail, from backdrop texture to digital glitter effects, reinforced the gala’s immersive, maximalist vibe.
Even guest photos became on-brand moments, helping the visual identity extend across the full attendee experience.
The final event brought the vision to life through immersive lighting, vibrant decor, and community-centered energy. The ballroom was transformed with large-scale branding, custom floral installations, and an atmosphere that balanced elegance with joy.
From the photobooth to the balloon-filled dance floor, every detail was designed to invite multigenerational guests—from funders to youth members—to connect, celebrate, and imagine the future together.
