Ana de Sousa - Design & Illustration

Monday, June 1, 2015

Hong Kong baby shower

To start the week, I wanted to share with you a baby shower that was themed around my invitation Babies are from Paris. This event is a good example of how the selection of a theme can simplify the organization of any event, as I mentioned in the post Guide for wedding invitations and decoration.

Here is the image of my baby shower invitation Babies are from Paris, available in Minted.

Photography by Minted

Once the future mom is set in Hong Kong, the invitation was adapted in order to include buildings of that city.

Photography by Hong Kong Housewife

The color of the decoration was adapted to the colors of the invitation.

Photography by Hong Kong Housewife

And also was made some cookies and cake pops based in the stork design from the invitation.

Photography by Hong Kong Housewife

I hope you liked it and have a nice week!

Credits:

Photography: Minted and Hong Kong Housewife

Invitation: Ana de Sousa for Minted.

Cake pops: Sweet Lauren Cakes

Cookies: Sugar MamaCookies SF

Friday, May 29, 2015

Brayden Family

As I promised in my post Guide for wedding invitation and decoration, the font that I’ve chosen to show you this week is: Brayden Family.

Designed by Adam Fathony, the regular version of this font is free for personal and commercial use. Because of its style, it is ideal for logos, lettering, wedding invitation, posters, etc.

Have a great weekend and stay tuned to the next suggestions.

Credits:
Font: Brayden Family.

Image: Ana de Sousa

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Guide for wedding invitation and decoration

After the definition of the date of your marriage, it is common that you ask yourself the following questions: "I'm getting married! Where do I start? What should I do?"

It’s a fact that the organization of any event requires some preparation with order to ensuring a good result. And thinking on this, I’ve prepared a small 5 step guide in order to simplify the planning of the decoration and graphic part of the event ( save the date , invitations , menus, etc.).

1. Get inspired: It is not compulsory, but the easiest way to start organizing an event is choosing a theme. Once you have your theme chosen, you can start searching for images and objects. Then, you can build an image board to help you visualize and combine the ideas that you’ve found.

2. Choose a color palette: Define up to 5 colors and organize your event based on them. The image board is a precious resource that can assist you in your choose.

For example, in the following image I present the image board of an invitation that I did for a couple that is using the Rustic chic as theme . This image board consists of several images of wildflowers from which was generated one palette of colors to be used in the event and invitations.

Note: There are also tools like Adobe Kuler where you can find color palettes created by other users and can also help you to create your own palette.

3. Text and layout: In your graphic elements, go for less text and have more originality on the disposition of it. This will give a clean and modern look to your graphic elements. Remember: less is more!

4. Fonts: You can use more than one font to write the text of your graphic material. But don’t forget! Up to three different fonts.

Note: Every week I will select and publish a font, so stay tuned to my font section.

5. Be original: Add original elements such as textures, in order to give a different and special touch to both: the decoration and graphic material.

As an example, I show you the result of the invitation that I designed for the theme Rustic chic. I used the color palette from step 1 and the text was simplified to give a clean and chic aspect. And finally, it was added a texture in the flowers for a rustic feel.

* The invitation's text was modified in order to protect the original information

I hope you liked it and stay tuned for the next ideas!

Credits:
Text: Ana de Sousa

Images and Invitation: Ana de Sousa
Buy invitation: Contact anadesousa.design@gmail.com

Monday, May 25, 2015

Beautiful stationery

Despite the facilities and the increasing use of digital tools, there is nothing that can replace the "magic" of printed materials: the feel and smell of the paper, the hand written words and phrases, the calligraphy ....From a simple note to a diary!

Combined with good design, these materials are elements that can make small differences in our everyday life and can be an excellent idea for an original gift.

Thinking about it, here are some suggestions:

At work, how about a set that combines a business card and stationery? Here is an example of a set that I design for Minted called Modern Art. In this design I tried to convey the information in a modern and different way.

Photography by Minted

And at home, how about a notebook with photographs of our loved ones? Here is an example of a notebook that I design for Minted called Flower Girl. This almost certainly will glad your notes every day!

Image by Ana de Sousa

I hope you liked it. Have a great week and happy notes ;)

Credits:
Photography by Minted.
Business card: Ana de Sousa for Minted

Business stationery: Ana de Sousa for Minted

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Lakesight

Before the weekend, I want to take the opportunity to introduce you another of my passions: fonts!

In this field, I wanted to show you a font with a personal use license that was listed last year among the top 100 free fonts by awwwards: o Lakesight.

As a hand-drawn font, the use of Lakesight is appropriated to highlight and beautify some parts of a text, title or label.