Holiday Cards
For 25 years I've designed annual holiday cards for friends, family, and associates. From simple, humble beginnings this annual foray into graphic design has grown into a rather major undertaking. As my mailing list has grown, so too has the thought and complexity that goes into each card. Nearly every year the cards are completely hand-made (including design, printing, assembling, and mailing). Although the cards may greatly differ year to year, they're always created as a heartfelt gift.
Greeting Cards
Whether conceived for a holiday, birthday, or just thanks, I feel greeting cards can and should be more than just folded cardstock with inane images and slogans. I love to delve into who the recipient really is, and re-think what a 'card' is and could be. After all, the more personal the card, the more meaningful it will be. Feel free to scroll through some of the cards I've created over the years and see what inspired them. And hey, if you need a card for a birthday, graduation, or any special event, give me a call and let's create an unforgettable memento.
2013
To commemorate the 25th annual card I wanted to really engage the recipient. Masquerading as 'audience' participation (read: some assembly required), this card came complete with folding instructions. What began as several marbled paper exercises culminated in two different star patterns.
2012
Growing up in the late 1960s and 1970s we were blessed with some of the best holiday cartoons and animated features ever made. This is my little tribute to one of the classics. I utilized a V-fold with a stand-up card concept; when opened, the Bumble moves to place the star atop the tree. The background mimics the mountain-scape and the font resembles the cartoon font.
2011
Here, the underlying concept is the card as gift. This pop-up card envelope came gift-wrapped with ribbon, extending the idea out [a gift within a gift].
2010
I actually came up with the idea for this card a year earlier, but didn't resolve the mechanics until this year. I really wanted for the movement to reflect how someone would actually make a snow angel. Assembled with 18 separate components this was one of the most challenging cards I've ever made.
2009
Inspired by an Eskimo proverb and the seque between 60s TV show scenes [an unlikely pairing, for sure]. I used my previous logo as the rolling icon out of the igloo. This is my first card that integrates business marketing within the annual card.
2008
After watching a cat mesmerized by the flickering flames of a fireplace fire, and leaping away at the crackles and pops, I knew I had my inspiration. For this card I combined the warmth of hand drawing and LOTS of intricate cutting, with a rotating disc to simulate dancing flames. Watch out kitty!
2007
Although simple in form, this card required planning to achieve its appearance and stance, and a little unfolding by the recipient.
2006
My original intent was to have a card made entirely out of metal, including a diamond-plated aluminum back. I wasn't able to get the materials I needed so the card back was made with printed cardstock. This is one concept I would like to revisit someday...[That Metal Card..?]
2005
For this card I focused on one's home as the heart of holiday activities, gatherings, and memories. I drew my home, and used a fold-out mechanism against a star-filled evening sky backdrop.
2004
When my father passed in September, it changed the ideas and priorities I had for this card. My dad was an avid photographer and documented every birthday, holiday, family event, and embarrassing moment. Using pictures he took I wanted to make a card that drew upon the deeply-rooted memories and emotions we all have from our childhood.
2001
As in some other years, sometimes an event so dominates one's mindset that it must be addressed. I used a photo I took from an Ellis Island ferry many years ago, and an incredibly prescient quote from the architect.
1996
A little crossover between the season and my passion for cycling. Since it's mountain bike & cyclocross season, ol' St. Nick decides to take a stab at downhill racing...with predictable results.
1995
Earth as ornament - following a tumultuous year worldwide. Negative image of inked drawing.
1990
Christmas tree study. Aah. Simpler times.
Riffing Action Birthday Card
What do you make for a creative guy (marketing, music) for a landmark birthday? Celebrate the day and his abilities, of course. A stand-up card featuring the rock God himself wouldn't be enough, though. I made a sliding mechanism controlling his arm that simulates riffing, the whole card shaped (appropriately) like a tombstone. This card was presented in a black-wrapped box with an image from his earlier, ahem, mane days (photo taken live in concert by the talented D. Strong).
Video Driver Birthday Card
As a computer programmer and unabashed tech-savvy computer nerd (I think half his wardrobe is from Thinkgeek.com), the recipient of this card offered clear artistic direction. I used an old Diamond Stealth 64Dram Video Card from one of my first workstations, font inspired by Tron, and 1/2" thick foam core to display the video card in all its glory. The best thing was that he immediately identified the video card, because he used to have the same card in a previous computer. Of course he did.
Land Yacht Air Freshener Card
Sometimes a recent purchase is all that's needed for proper inspiration. I always thought that when someone buys a exceptionally large land yacht it should come with an exceptionally appropriate accessory - a Capt. Stubing air freshener, complete with Love Boat-type font and graphic. Since nobody makes them, I made one. Sealed, then dipped in pine oil this baby will have the car smelling like fresh trees for a very long time. Well, longer than the gas in the tank will last anyway.
Graduation Card
After a friend graduated law school it just felt right to congratulate him on his achievement. A cap and mortar board opening into a loo? Insert your own lawyer joke here: _________.
Cabinet Wine Label
Designed for Randolph Street Wine C., a new winery of Akron native-turned Napa rock star Drew Neiman, this California Riesling label is a graphic play on a cabinet. Based on the German term Kabinett, a wine of superior quality set aside in a special cellar cabinet, this design shows an exploded axonometric drawing of a base cabinet and serves as a graphic analogy for the construction of this wine, three blended Riesling grapes.