Yesterday I got my Winter edition of Stationery Trends magazine. This is the “Trend” issue, so it says on the cover, so I eagerly flipped through to take a look at what’s new in the industry. Birds, birdcages, pink/fuschia, florals (seems like those are always in style), simple, bold bright graphics (ditto the always-in-style comment), cutesy graphics, etc. I was a bit disappointed; I didn’t see anything new. I saw a lot of nice, safe design that looks like the nice, safe design from last season. But nothing that you could send to a friend (whether a card or invitation) that he or she wouldn’t have already seen before. So maybe the design is pink, instead of blue, but it’s basically the same thing.
How are you going to leave a good impression when it matters most? For example, when you send a hand-written card after that job interview, my wife swears this is a very good way to stand out in a crowd that sends email thank-you notes. She used to be a department manager and was impressed when someone actually took the time to made write a note on a nice card shell out the forty-some cents and get it to the post office. Yes, it’s an extra effort, but it shows you go the extra step. I can hear her saying, “If you want the job, take the time to market yourself!. But, I digress.
I did see a couple new twists that felt fresh. For example, the “white on white” look (pages 12-13), elegant, understated, stands out from the crowd of colorful graphics, so it makes a statement. The #4 item, white bar soap that looks like a chuck of wood, was really a fun twist! But it’s not stationery, it’s soap. And #8 (a panel note card) had a hand-made paper quality with perfectly placed imperfections that give it an old-world quality.
Stationery Trends is a great trade magazine, don’t get wrong, I read every issue, but I expect more. More creativity, more conceptual designs that push our ideas of what card, and especialy invitation, design can be. What will we be doing in three years, the same stuff in a different color?
Then it hit me, I don’t do “trendy” at Spiffy Press. I create completely unique custom note cards, invitations and greeting cards from scratch for your everyday use or special occasion event. I use the traditional design process I learned in art school; no templates, reused or pre-made layouts will do. Meaning I list to you for inspiration, then research, conceptualize and sketch to create your look. It’s the same process I use when I design brochures, logos and other other marketing and business collateral. I am a graphic designer first, a letterpress printer second. The concept of each design is critical to me, as is making a new solution each time.
Custom note cards are worth it when you need to leave a good impression!
Bottom line: You are always in style. You don’t need trendy looks for your greeting cards, invitations or business cards. Just be yourself. We’ll design around you, your style, your interest. And you’ll love the results even more than some trendy design everyone else has.
