Rice Design Alliance
REVOLVE. EVOLVE: AS THE CITY TURNS
Project
Rice Design Alliance Fall Gala
This invitation package was created for the Rice Design Alliance (RDA) of the Rice School of Architecture’s Fall Gala in Houston. As a prestigious black-tie fundraising event supporting architecture and urban design initiatives, the gala required an identity that reflected both the sophistication of the evening and the exploratory spirit of the organization.
Deliverables
Services
Positioning
Naming
Verbal Identity
Visual Identity
Deliverables
Logo
Visual Language
Branded Graphics
Signage
Stationery
A City Turning
Paying homage to Houston as an ever-changing landscape of architecture and development, the theme Revolve, Evolve: As the City Turns serves as a playful yet meaningful metaphor. The illustrative icons reference classical forms while nodding to Houston’s reputation for unconventional zoning and continual reinvention. The identity captures a city in motion—dynamic, layered, and always evolving.
One Good Turn Deserves Another
The invitation package, related materials, and event graphics were built around ideas of rotation, shifting perspectives, and change. Circular motifs, directional patterns, and structural forms echoed the gala’s theme and were strategically integrated across collateral, signage, and on-site installations. The venue itself—the former Enron headquarters—amplified the narrative, reinforcing the idea of turning points, transformation, and forward movement.
Immersive Details
From the vivid orange lighting illuminating the elevated circular pedestrian bridge to the graphic layers woven throughout printed and digital pieces, each element supported a cohesive, immersive experience. The design language emphasized the interplay of architecture, motion, and community—celebrating RDA’s mission of fostering dialogue and advocating for thoughtful urban development.
“RDA’s mission of urban and design advocacy, fully embedded within the Rice School of Architecture, RDA has made extensive efforts to preserve this history and make a lasting influence on Houston’s architecture and urban design communities.”
Rice Design Alliance
