studio ariadne daily

Dots and swashes

Ariadne Sophia — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:39:04 +0000

Although I love creating complex, indulgently detailed invitation sets (including one of my recent projects — a beautiful, mixed-pattern design that I will reveal in a few days), I find that it is simple designs that appeal to me the most. This is one of my absolute favourites. The combination of a stunning, elaborate script and a crisp serif create lovely text that can stand on its own. A simple, playful border of dots adds a touch of colour and fun. In black, white and rich red, this set exudes a luxurious yet modern vibe.

A closer shot of the main invitation shows off the details.

The invitation is complimented by an RSVP postcard. On the back is my favourite detail: a flourished monogram outlined in red dots, bringing the subtle theme full circle.

This last image shows how a stamp in complimentary colours can add a fresh, bright accent to this pared-down colour scheme.

Rock the chapel

Ariadne Sophia — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 11:12:30 +0000

I love the idea of poster save the dates and invitations. However, producing and mailing them can prove to be a lot of trouble — and sometimes it’s all for naught, because even though you might be the coolest kid on the block, not everyone is going to be dying to put your massive poster on their wall. That said, I think it’s a fabulous idea for the right couple.

I wanted to try and simplify the idea. This fun save the date eliminates a lot of those hassles. First, it’s designed to print on standard letter size (8.5″ x 11″) paper using a normal desktop printer, with a clean bit of white space around. No borderless, no screen printing, no cutting down to size. However, I also roughed it up a little to make it look more organic. When printed on a simple, textured off-white paper, you end up with a save the date that is quite a bit more practical than a full-on poster — but still rocks the casbah (or in this case, the chapel).

Modern lace

Ariadne Sophia — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 09:28:36 +0000

My inspiration for this suite was the fall trend for lace. However, while Miuccia Prada did it in stunning neutrals and blacks, I wanted to combine it with a colour scheme that could easily become saccharine (pale pink, blush pink and dark grey). The challenge was to come up with a final product that incorporated all these elements while retaining a clean, modern feel.

lace from Prada; bouquet from Martha Stewart

Now, I love script type and calligraphy. It is undeniably dominant in the world of wedding stationery, and understandably so. Ornate and formal, it gives paper a truly elegant edge. However, sometimes it’s a little too decorative — and paired with the lace motif and pink palette, there was definitely too much going on.

I decided to go in a different direction with the type, and I love the result. This beautiful, upright italic serif is playful and crisp. Its decorative quality is brought out by pairing it with a simple sans. And since the text doesn’t draw too much attention, the beautiful antique lace print stands out.

The RSVP card continues the modern approach to text, while the decorative print is rotated vertically in order to create a piece that is complementary to the invitation without being too matchy.

Just pink enough to avoid Barbie territory.

Whimsical sophistication

Ariadne Sophia — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:27:00 +0000

I wanted to design an invitation that was obviously art deco inspired, but not stereotypical. The colour palette? Palest baby pink and golden mustard yellow. Sweet, sophisticated and just a little bit unusual.

The motif for this design was created by disassembling an art deco-style stained glass border and creating individual elements out of it, which I then scattered throughout the right side of the paper. The type makes obvious references to that aesthetic, but is toned down a bit by limiting the use of the distinctive uppercase to the couple’s names.

The RSVP card picks up some of the main motifs and reverses the colours. The use of the sweet accent script also adds a subtle decorative touch. In the right panel of the image is a close-up that shows off the dainty details of the type.

The same elements lend themselves to a simple yet stylish envelope treatment.

The result? A whimsical, playful suite with classic art deco touches — perfect for a minimalist, chic event.