This year, the invitations were more than just an announcement of the upcoming event — they were also the first taste of real life ad work for more than 20 high school students.

The FUSION festival invitations that go out this week are the result of a class competition for several high school students.

This marked the first year that students at Federal Way High School have designed the invitations.

Judy Free, who is organizing this year’s event, typically designs the invitations herself. This year she decided to ask for a little help.

FUSION

Friends United to Shelter the Indigent Oppressed and Needy (FUSION) was started in 1993 by Peggy LaPorte. It is a nonprofit volunteer-run program that provides transitional housing and services for families facing homelessness.

In 2009, the group merged with the Joseph Foundation. Together they have 15 transitional housing units and 10 condominiums here in Federal Way.

A good chunk of FUSION’s funding comes from its annual summer art event.

The event, which runs 3 to 9 p.m. Aug. 5, features artwork from 30-35 local artists, Free said. There are silent and live auctions, and food will be provided by Metropolitan Market.

The event will once again be held at the Dumas Bay Centre, 3200 SW Dash Point Rd. This may be the last year at that location for the event, as the city is considering closing the center. City council will talk about the future of Dumas Bay Centre on June 16.

Give My Regards

This year’s theme is “Give My Regards to Broadway,” and students in Jennifer Picardo’s advanced art class were challenged to design the invitations.

Picardo, who before becoming a teacher at FWHS was a graphic designer for 20 years, let her 22 advanced art students prepare presentation boards of their theme.

“It took about three weeks,” Picardo said. “It was their first real world project.”

After Free came in a talked with the students about the event, the theme and what FUSION was looking for, the students went to work — sketching out ideas before turning their sketches into computer roughs. After finalizing their computer designs, the students put their ideas out on a final presentation board.

Free, Kathy Martin, Donna Short and Peggy LaPorte met to choose the top five, then finally a top pick designed by Danine Polus. However the work wasn’t quite done. Free also put notes on each student’s design with comments.

“She came back very gracious,” Picardo said. “I got all the kids together (not all students are in the same class at once) and she made comments about every single design. I think it was really exciting for them to get feedback.”

Free also had good things to say about the students’ designs.

“There were several strong possibilities,” Free said. “It’s fun to see what they came up with.”