When a close friend approached me to help bring her 30th birthday vision to life, I saw a chance to blend friendship and creativity in a way that would make the milestone truly unforgettable. Her dream? A heartfelt weekend escape to Waiheke Island: ready for friendship, beautiful views, and many unforgettable moments. My role? To bring the celebration to life with custom invitations and unique games, which we designed from scratch.

The project became a joyous collaboration, shaped by endless laughter, voice messages, and brainstorms. We bounced ideas, swapped drafts, and refined every detail: what started as sketches and laughter slowly became polished invitations welcoming each guest into the spirit of the weekend. 

Throughout, my focus was to make each touchpoint—every design, colour, and word—feel deeply personal and undeniably “her.” What resulted was more than a set of party materials: it was a celebration of friendship, filled with keepsakes that will always remind us of a beautiful milestone shared together.

Each element (from colour choices to illustrations to in-jokes woven through the game cards) was shaped by our friendship and the desire to make everyone feel included. Working so closely with the guest of honour pushed my creativity in new directions and reminded me how meaningful, tailored design can spark joy and forge lasting memories.