designing a BRAZILian-inspired visual identity for a BLACK-TIE affair

PARTY WITH A PURPOSE: The IAC Gala is I Am C.U.L.T.U.R.E.D.’s capstone fundraising event, occurring annually each June. Gala attendees enjoy an elegant evening of cultural enrichment, community connection, live entertainment, and much more– all while knowing their ticket purchase is a tax-deductible donation that directly benefits IAC’s next cycle of Youth Development programming for high school students of color.

A TWIST ON BLACK-TIE: Each year, IAC draws thematic Gala inspiration from one of the unique international destinations that the students travel to (as part of the broader Youth Development programming). It’s black-tie with a twist!

The muse for the 2025 Gala was the stunning, vibrant, bold, and historic state of Bahia, Brazil. (Learn more about beautiful Bahia here and here!)

During initial creative explorations, a look and feel began to emerge that blended evergreen brand assets with unique, thematic elements for a cohesive Gala 2025 design system.
Special attention was paid to typography, pattern, color, and texture for the 2025 IAC Gala as a way to infuse the thematic visual identity with the dynamic vibe of Bahia, Brazil.
To sell tickets and promote the event, the organization focused on several specific digital channels: Social (Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin), Email, and on both our website and the Givebutter platform. At the same time, the team also worked to secure sponsorships, in-kind donations, vendors, and other critical partnerships with a variety of presentation decks and media kits. Head over to @iamculturedinc on IG to view more content, specifically reels, to get the full Bahia effect (sound on, please! [Spotify playlist coming soon]).

THE MAIN EVENT: BRINGING BAHIA TO BROOKLYN

For the actual Fundraising Gala, we extended the design system into nearly every medium– massive digital displays, a vast range of print materials, branded merchandise, custom-engraved glass awards, lighting and special effects, and much more. Additionally, we curated the food and beverage offerings, the florals, the live entertainment and performances, and even the contents of the Gala goodie bags.
The 7th Annual IAC Fundraising Gala was a glowing success, both in raising funds for the 2025-2026 Youth Development programming cycle, and in curating and delivering a premium event experience for all the Gala attendees. I take immense pride in the work that we do for the young folks of NYC, and it is an honor to serve as a Board Member and as the Creative Director for this mission-driven nonprofit.