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budafist
12-04-2006, 03:29 AM
I work at a printing company, so I get to see a lot of company christmas cards come in. I think my favourite ones are 1 colour cards that have beautiful die-cutting.
Die-cutting really isn't that expensive and the effects are really unique. Christmas cards are a great way to show that printing isn't all about 2D graphic design. Besides, if you're printing in 1 colour, then you save $$$ anyway.
Just thought I'd share my 2 cents.
Red Kittie Kat
12-04-2006, 04:08 AM
Duly Noted :D
greyghost
12-04-2006, 02:46 PM
Good to share :) It makes some of us think a leetle. ;)
The best Christmas cards I have ever gotten have come from fellow designers. For a designer a Christmas card is a chance to demonstrate creativity and leave an impression with a current client or a potential new one. It is a chance to self-promote without being crass/commercial about it. At SPAR our card has become a tradition and many recipients tell us they look forward to our cards and often call to tell us how much they enjoyed them.
We approach the card design with three objectives:
1) Demonstrate creativity - This is the one time you don't have a client smothering creativity - take advantage of it!
2) Have fun - Most of our cards are rarely ever serious with some kind of parody or attempt at humor, usually making fun of ourselves.
3) Put faces to the names. - We always try to incorporate images of all SPARtians in the card somehow. Many of our clients have never even been in our offices and some have never actually met any of us except over the phone. It is nice to be able to put a face on that disembodied voice.
The best one we ever did was a DVD totally filmed in the offices with slapped together props that was a play on the TV show Survivor, called "SPARvivor", of course. The best part of all was the out-takes at end.
Another was a special e-card on our web site that we sent links and passwords for. This year's will be a print card with a 50th anniversary theme. It is a little more serious but has its light moments as we track the history of advertising and design as related to SPAR's 50 year history.
I don't believe we have ever gone over $3,000 total (most years way less) and usually win ADDY awards for our efforts.
Be creative and have fun, but make it memorable.
Six
budafist
12-04-2006, 10:02 PM
Wow Six! You win awards for you xmas things?
Where can we view these?
To be honest there isn't a lot of competition in the category and it is only local. As such they don't qualify to move up to regional or national. Depends on what turns on the judge too. Some I thought were very good didn't get anything. Some I thought were just "okay" won. But you can't win unless you enter!
Six
freshrazzlefunk
12-11-2006, 09:23 PM
i've been looking around for ideas myself. i found this post on a blog that has some very nice calendars with some artsy/handmade winter themes:
http://decor8.blogspot.com/2006/11/2007-calendar-round-up_20.html
or i may go the more funky/humor route like these little guys at www.punchpunks.com (http://www.punchpunks.com)
budafist
12-11-2006, 09:35 PM
Too late for this year, but next year I'm going to print a sheet of stickers, get the stickers diecut and provide a blank Xmas card. DIY Christmas card! Message inside being along the lines of:
We couldn't be assed designing a Xmas card this year, so we'll leave it in your capable hands. Happy Holidays! See you in the New Year!
If it hasn't already be done before, you heard it in this thread first!
Man, I wish I were more orgainsed...