INVITATION

When the client requested a teddy bear theme for her baby shower, I began by creating a series of individual bear faces to help establish the visual direction. Although she had a favorite, she loved the different personalities of all the bears, which inspired me to find a way to incorporate them into the final design.
I was reminded of Old Bear, a childhood favorite about a group of distinctly different teddy bears in a British nursery who work together to rescue an old bear from the attic. The classic character of those traditional teddy bears inspired the group featured in this invitation, with each bear given a slightly different pose and personality.
I developed the concept around a group of bears riding in a red toy wagon, with one bear pulling the wagon while the others sit and lean over its sides. The client’s original favorite became the largest bear, giving the composition a clear focal point while allowing the other bears to contribute their own character. The resulting illustration became the foundation for the invitation design she selected.