EVENT
KD is 4D
A surprise 40th birthday party
CHALLENGE
On Sunday, January 1, 2023 I reached out to vendors to help plan the most epic 40th birthday celebration for my husband, Kevin. And it had to be a surprise.
The challenge was difficult as my muse is so very multifaceted. How do I create an unforgettable event that was everything he loved, nothing he didn’t, and gave guests the experience and feeling of “this is SO Kevin”?
I was excited to celebrate him as we had been through a very difficult time and reminding him of who he is and how much he is loved was important to me.
THE IDEA
Kevin is a bearded, debonair gentleman that is both cleverly humorous and slightly outrageous. He is also a whiskey aficionado. Though he wasn’t native to Texas, he assimilated wholeheartedly!
Between his interests and his personality, the idea of a whiskey-soaked Texan tribute took flight.
I started with the logo design. I wanted a vintage whiskey label with a bit of humor. (He actually did sport that magnificent construction of facial hair for a time. In fact, he shaved it while singing this amazing song.)
Along with the logo, I developed a color palette, tone of voice, and image brief to pass along to my vendors and event planners to help build the most epic event.
WEBSITE
I wanted to create a fun way to invite guests and stir excitement. Kevin’s vibrant character inspired me to create an online experience that would mirror his essence. Thus, this award-winning website was born.
My goal was to transport visitors to an alternate Fort Worth, where history met imagination. With quirky collages, interactive hover elements, and fun copywriting, they would encounter a digital looking glass infused with vintage charm, whimsy, and all things K.D.
You can still experience the website here.
The site received rave reviews, not only from guests, but fellow creatives alike:
Muse Creative Awards: Silver Award, Website Design
DesignRush: 2024 Best Single Page Website Design
OnePageLove: Featured Single Page Website
THE RESULTS
The results? So. many. tears. Tears of surprise and laughter. Tears of happiness and remembrance. Tears from one epic hangover the next day.
The event planners took the brand content I created and made magic happen. We picked a selection of whiskey that would knock Van Winkle’s socks off - complete with custom Kevin stir sticks that still show up around the world. From hand-rolled cigars and Ole Miss football to a ridiculous amount of hot sauce and an elote that my sister still raves about… every element was a reflection of the brand I built based off the guy we all love. Not one detail was missed. And of course everyone was sent home with a DIY hot toddy kit and rum cake.
It was whiskey-soaked perfection.
