With Holiday Season around the corner, here’s a reminder: gifts don’t have to be all about the price tag. Most times, it really is the thought that matters. And greeting cards are a great (un-pricey) way to convey that sentiment. After all, kind words are worth more than stuff you don’t need (there’s a reason why “you’re doing amazing sweetie!” turned into such an iconic meme – words matter).
So why not spice up your greeting card game this time around? Instead of the tried and tested Hallmark Card, here are some illustrators and designers to take note from.
Hello! Lucky
Founded by sisters Eunice James and Sabrina Moyle, the greeting-card brand Hello! Lucky was founded with the belief that creativity, positivity, humor, and kindness are the key ingredients to a life well-lived. The brand sells all sorts of paper goodies, and those include puns and uplifting messages you’ll want to share with your loved ones. “We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to express themselves and to live in a world that affirms beauty, diverse experiences, and kindness,” write the sisters on their websites. Words to live by!
Olga Griesinger
When it comes to greeting cards, graphic designer and illustrator, Olga Griesinger, is the master. Her skills include anything from layout and typography, to photography and illustration, with her designs featured on the many products of letterpress greeting card company Elum Designs. “I get to have fun coming up with concepts (illustrations as well as words) for greeting cards of all sorts of occasions, which are printed in a beautiful old (and complicated to learn) technique of letterpress,” she explained in an interview with The Design Kids. “I also get to design stationery collections and products, gift-wrap and gift bags, which are later sold in stores like Papyrus, Homegoods, Marshalls, TJ-Max, and Clintons.”
Lindsey Bugbee
But sometimes, it’s not about what you write but how you write it. Calligrapher Lindsey Bugbee knows best. Based in Boulder, Colorado Bugbee works as a calligraphy teacher, passing on her many tricks and tips. “I think that pretty penmanship comes with being able to draw,” she told Sweet Meadow. “If you can convincingly depict a 3D object onto a 2D object (e.g. draw a sunflower on a piece of paper), you can write. It just takes a steady hand and some practice!”
