I’d like to think that the caliber of a party has a direct correlation to the caliber of its physical invitation. Urban Influence successfully set the tone for two of last year’s best parties with custom invitations designed by Michael Mates. Both invites are featured in Rockport’s The Best of Brochure Design 10.

The James Bond theme of the Grand Opening of Issaquah’s Hilton Garden Inn inspired a sophisticated black and white accordion fold with custom diecut and illustrations. An exclusive VIP celebration for the 20th Anniversary of the Queen City Grill warranted an elaborate and tactile invitation that behaves much like a miniature artist’s book—featuring a mixture of embossed ornamentation, vellum overlays and a custom ambigram to convey the twenty-year history of the grill.

Congratulations Mike. Here’s to elevating partying to an art form.