Oxide Design Co.

Holiday Bowl invitation

For the 2009 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, the President’s Office of the University of Nebraska asked us to create an invitation for a pre-game party in San Diego. The University wanted to do something special for their supporters in the area, so they booked the world famous Hotel Del Coronado. The Del, as it is known by local residents, is a beachfront luxury hotel just across the San Diego Bay. It is one of the oldest and largest all-wooden buildings in California and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977. Celebrities, presidents, and royalty have all stayed at the hotel and it has been featured in several movies and books.

We chose to illustrate the most recognizable view of the hotel, adding the special touch of a Nebraska flag at its peak. The flag signifies Nebraska’s arrival in the area. Building on the hotel’s grand history we used vintage illustration and typography techniques. Luckily, the hotel’s roof is already painted red, so working that into the invitation was not a problem.

We are especially proud of how this project turned out considering our very short timeline. The first time our client ever mentioned the project was at 10 a.m. on a Thursday, and the final designed and illustrated piece was sent to the printer before 10 a.m. the following day. The event was a success, as was the game  — the 20th-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers defeated the Arizona Wildcats 33-0. The shutout by the Husker defense was the first in Holiday Bowl history and the first in Nebraska bowl history.