Beautifully designed birthday cards?

[tobefirst ⚽️]

I'm getting ready to design the birthday card for my place of employment and, after doing so the last 5 years, am looking for some inspiration. However, the internet has proved to be less than useful when trying to search for well designed birthday cards. I get all kinds of hits for how to make my own birthday cards, and all kinds of other things, but can't find any links at all from graphic design blogs, sites, etc.

Does anyone have any links or cards they have done that they want to share? Thanks!

 

[THX1139]

So, in other words... you want to find someone else's idea that you can copy?

Try doing a google image search or go to flicker or any of the major stock image places to see if you can find "inspiration". Just because there isn't a fold down the center doesn't mean you can't use the idea.

Or, you might try actually visiting a card shop in person to see what they have on the racks. I know, that is soooo last century.

Or, if you totally can't get it... then think about hiring someone. Might be worth actually paying someone to create something orginal if it's that important.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

Oh, THX1139, you know me all too well. Funny how that is considering we've never even exchanged any words with one another, let alone you actually, you know, knowing me.

I've been to istockphoto and on both a google web and image search, but haven't found anything that grabbed my attention. When I posted, I was looking through a book of "1000 greetings" hoping to find some inspiration there. Perhaps I will tomorrow when I continue. I hadn't thought to look on Flickr, so actually thanks for that suggestion.

Regarding actually going to a card shop to look, I've spent more time in there than you would guess. For the 18 months my girlfriend and I have been together, I've given her a different greeting card each and every week (except for one...oops), plus additional ones for some of the holidays. Hopefully, you can accept as proof the attachments below, which were photographed with my phone at my work so that I wouldn't get her the same card twice– but that became a hassle so I stopped.

Regardless, you won't find a ton of well designed birthday cards that aren't trying to be funny, or have annoying Hoops & Yo-yo sounds, or rely on pictures of real or created famous people. Most of what's left are flowery, overly sentimental ones- not exactly what I'm looking for.

I'll admit that Dr. Phil is more than a bit crazy, but I believe him when he says that the most accurate predictor of future behavior is relevant past behavior. You'd be hard pressed to find any relevant past behavior on this forum of me looking to steal other people's ideas. But, you're probably right, after 2739 posts, I'm probably looking to start now.

I do, however, appreciate you taking the time to read the original post. I'm going to assume that today was a bad day for you- I'm sorry for whatever it was that happened- and hope that tomorrow will be better. Furthermore, have a great night!

 

[sharkync]

This may not be much help, but I think you need to decide on a theme first. Most birthday cards I have come across are either religious, funny, sentimental or crude. Some I would consider well designed - most I would not.

Maybe helpful to pick a color theme first and see if it inspires you. Good luck.