Courtney ToPanga Washington is a world renowned creative director, choreographer, dancer, and community figure. She is also a beloved mother. Each year Courtney hosts a Thanksgiving dinner for her family and closest friends. For the 2025 edition of CourtsGiving, we created a deck of playing cards to serve as an invitation that would also live on long after the event’s end. Inspired by the physical invitations yesteryear, I wanted to create an invitation that combined the charm of tangibility with the spirit of all things Courtney. I wanted these invitations to serve as a memento for the event while also being of some practical use beyond its initial function. Spades has a reputation of being high stakes and tense, but at its core it brings people together, especially Black families. Courtney loves to play spades with her friends. I thought that a customized deck of playing cards would be a clever way to welcome people into the space while memorializing the energy often shared during a Courtney led gathering. Designer and art director Narayani Leonardo brings a strong commitment to honoring matriarchal legacies to her work. Her design approach strikes a balance between minimalism and maximalism making her well suited to hone Courtney's larger than life spirit into a refined design language. Focusing on strength and timelessness, the invitations maintain the integrity of a standard deck while adding a romantic twist through ornate details. Throughout the deck there is a pastel pink with rose wine text and ornamentation. The crown symbols on the card backs and invitation cards represent the strength of a mother figure. Classical style typography exudes elegance and royalty and is framed by ornate borders. The face and Joker cards feature photos of Courtney treated with a rose wine overlay that unifies the pink palette. The skeleton key on the Jack symbolizes access, responsibility, and opening doors. Embodying the positive spirit of family gatherings, the CourtsGiving invitations are a token that will continue to give for years to come.