Best of CASE District I Award
 

Institution: Harvard University

Title of entry: 2022 GSD Holiday Card

About this entry: The 2022 GSD Holiday Card mailing celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Gund Hall at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD) and serves as a thoughtful and joyful stewardship touchpoint for our community of alumni and donors. As one of the few printed pieces from the school, the annual mailing provides the Development and Alumni Relations Office with an opportunity to convey gratitude and for frontline officers to include a handwritten, personalized note to top prospects. Since the GSD Holiday Card mailing first launched in 2014, the project has become a light-hearted, creative piece that our audience of designers can look forward to receiving in their mailboxes year after year.

This year’s card went above and beyond its original goal through its design and engagement. By hiring a GSD student to illustrate the card, we were able to capture the essence of the school from a student perspective. The one-of-a-kind drawing celebrates Gund Hall’s milestone year and speaks to the student and alumni experience by highlighting the spaces and characters that make the building a memorable part of the school. By including a QR code within the design, recipients can quickly view our new Alumni & Friends website, 2021 giving report, and a timelapse video featuring a behind-the-scenes look into the creation of the illustration. The promotion of the design on the GSD Instagram account expanded our reach to even greater audiences and contributed to the project’s goal of creating a sense of community and belonging.