I wonder who was on the guest list to receive this incredible invitation to the MS EUROPA 2 Luxury Liner’s christening… and did they appreciate the thought and execution of the end product? Well, even if they didn’t this project deserves to be featured across all media platforms.

Creators Paperlux are a dynamic and creative design agency in Hamburg. An awesome city always worth a visit and co-incidentally where my alma mater is based. So sweet memories were evoked when I came across this intricate and beautiful design by Paperlux. Each detail is immaculately finished and the project deserves to win awards. The idea of the invite is of an old-fashioned stop motion movie which uses Vaudeville characters and illustrations you can move and play with to build up the excitement of the ship’s christening. In other words it’s a miniature set design which connects with the child in you. At least that is my interpretation but if you’d like to find out more here is the official description by Paperlux:

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises entrusted us to design a multi-stage invitation for the christening of the new MS EUROPA 2 luxury liner. For the ‘Save the Date’ announcement, we chose a poster format with classic vaudeville motifs. Typography and color selections followed the corporate design and a classy finish in lustrous Iriodin emphasized the festive character of the event. For the reminder, we designed a card with satin ribbon, a small metal crank, and an overlying porthole in cardboard. An eye-catching ensemble that awakens the curiosity of the recipient. The heart of the invitation that followed was a linen-covered box, which provided a view to a maritime landscape fashioned from paper. The attached crank sets waves, figurines and vaudeville performances in motion. The mechanism was developed in collaboration with set designer Tim John. The press invitation, with the figure of a photographer, was also designed as a visual box. For the packaging we used fine ropes and bowline knots – an additional homage to the MS EUROPA 2, which now travels the seas.

Enjoy and I hope you’re inspired!

More information | Paperlux
Photography | Michael Pfeiffer