Despite the ever-growing attempt to digitalize all aspects of our lives, there remain some occasions when you need an actual, physical card–– celebrating a graduation or birthday, congratulating an engagement or wedding, or simply to say I’m thinking of you.
The design of greeting cards has certainly evolved over the years, and they remain a staple in our lives marking special occasions along the way. Time spent rummaging through stacks of greeting cards fills us with design inspiration, especially when working on a presentation.
The nature of greeting cards is similar to that of presentations. There’s one overall point that needs to be delivered, and it should be said in a pithy, compelling way. The design of the cards, too, must be engaging and beautiful, like our presentations.
The design of greeting cards runs the gamut of style. Some embrace a minimalist, simplistic style, others champion a photographic style, and many employ a cartoonish or illustrated style. Like in presentation design, there are nearly unlimited options in the style of design, but before we begin designing, we must determine what direction we want to take. Don’t design without direction. Know how you want the final product to look before you begin.
Think of a card you bought or received recently. How was the message disseminated? What design accompanied the words? Surely, the card did not have a swarm of words but rather a concise sentence or two relating the message, and surely the card was visually pleasing in its design.
Why did you enjoy the card? Did it make you laugh? Did it appeal to your emotions? Did it strike you visually? Take a few minutes to think about what attracted you to that particular card. Consider the design elements used to create the card, and consider the tone and words the writer used to express the message. How can you use those techniques in your presentation? How can you simplify your presentation so thoroughly that its message would fit on a greeting card?
Consider these questions before you begin designing your next presentation. If you can narrow down your message to something that would work effectively on a greeting card, you’re going to have a far easier time distributing your message in a clear, accessible way for your audience.
