The problem is...

... I think I've just ripped off Rob Ryan. Badly. So I did a hand made paper cut out to let you know. See what I did there.
My hand done lettering comes out very similar to Ryans as well as the idea of using negative space (though in a different way to him) to build a picture kind of feels a lot like copying.

Some quick camera-phone photos from my latest uni project coming up with some christmas cards. Quite pleased with some of it, not so pleased with other bits but ran out of time to correct them (like the scarily spikey antlers on the reindeer). If people are interested i'll upload the digital files of the cards so you can have a better, crisper look. The whole idea behind these cards is to combat the amount of waste christmas cards generate every year and/or the energy put into recycling them. These were designed to be re-used, utilising a "sign your name and send on all of our love" system, which i hopes create a more social, communal vibe to the product which is what I feel christmas should be about. This project was interesting because I found I learnt more in actually putting the finals together then I did in the whole development process, usually I find it to be the other way around.
It's a bit of a shame one of my favourite bits of this project are the labels/covers I made for the folders.



"Each of these card designs is intended to provide an environmentally friendly option to the consumer within the christmas gift-card market. Whilst many current cards are constructed from recycled or ethically-sourced materials this still does nothing to combat the massive volumes of waste generated every year. The aim of these cards is to provide a re-useable product that not only prevents waste but through the application of re-using the card intends to create a greater social and communal nature around the product.

Regarding construction of the product, both the 240mm x 120mm card and the 220mm x 100mm insert are to be made from recycled/ethically sourced card of the closest suitable match to the sampled card.
An insert of the appropriate colour for the card design is to be mounted horizontally and vertically central on the interior of the card. A mounted insert rather than printing on the reverse side of the 240mm x 120mm card provides a greater tactile experience and hopefully indicates a greater level of craftsmanship and quality.
The card with mounted insert is to be folded vertically along the centre.
Regarding the 240mm x 120mm card, all un-inked surface is to remain unfinished whilst inked surfaces are to be embossed and glossed.
Regarding the 220mm x 100mm insert, both inked and un-inked surfaces are to remain unfinished to provide a better surface for the consumer to write on."