AYO Gala | Brand Experience + Event Creative Direction

In just 45 days, I led the branding, creative direction, and event experience for the inaugural AYO Gala, an upscale fundraiser presented by Keeping Families Connected and hosted at Bentley Dallas.

The challenge was to create an experience that felt luxurious enough for the venue and guest list while remaining deeply connected to the organization’s mission of helping families maintain meaningful relationships with incarcerated loved ones. I developed the event’s visual direction, environmental design, guest-facing materials, décor concept, and onsite experience—bringing together the red, black, and gold palette, dramatic florals, cinematic lighting, and branded touchpoints into one cohesive environment.

I also collaborated across vendors, partners, stakeholders, and production needs to move the event from concept to execution within an exceptionally compressed timeline.

The gala brought together local celebrities, influencers, and community leaders and exceeded its fundraising goal, raising $50,000 to support prison family visitation programs.