On your shoppers and clients, having an excellent number of greeting card designs lets you efficiently receives a commission to your artwork, in addition to showcase your potential as a card designer. Over the previous three years as a greeting card designer, I’ve had the possibility to study from my errors, my successes, and different artists. The portfolio suggestions beneath could be simply accommodated to your distinctive artwork apply, so listed below are six key methods to construct a robust greeting card portfolio.
1. Showcase designs that actually characterize you
As artists, we have to visually characterize ourselves with work that matches inside our creative bandwidth and pursuits. Oftentimes, we make errors by including artwork items to our portfolio that have been simply informal explorations, trials, or compelled creations. They may not be the work that we like or made thoughtfully.
It may be tempting to share all of the work you create. However bear in mind, you by no means know which consumer is searching your work and making choices primarily based on what you will have showcased in your portfolio. The work you present units an expectation that you’re able to making that exact sort of artwork in the long term. It additionally gives the look that you just’re good at making that type of artwork.
For instance: a majority of your playing cards embody cursive typography however someday you simply tried block lettering (which isn’t your core curiosity), however you wished to indicate in your portfolio that you just tried one thing new. Whereas there’s nothing incorrect with attempting one thing new, is it consultant of your model?
To simplify, ask your self whether or not the artwork you present in your portfolio is one thing you wouldn’t thoughts creating time and again. Is it the artwork that represents who you might be, and what your vibe is? I bear in mind one time I put up a design I made in a rush that wasn’t common for my artwork fashion, only for the sake of including items to my portfolio. I used to be hooked up to what I made, however once I mirrored on the design, that card was one thing I made one random day for a Father’s Day submission. Take a look at your present playing cards and sift by way of what’s ‘you’ and what may not be!
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2. Embody extra on a regular basis classes
Greeting card events could be broadly divided into two classes, on a regular basis and seasonal. Seasonal playing cards are one thing that sells just for a specific time of the yr, I.e. Mom’s Day, Christmas, Diwali, St, Patrick’s Day, and many others. Quite the opposite, on a regular basis playing cards are bought all yr spherical, I.e. Birthday, get properly quickly, wedding ceremony, new Child, and many others. These playing cards are evergreen they usually can normally usher in constant gross sales for you as a greeting card designer.
Why do I counsel having extra on a regular basis classes in your portfolio? Your design has extra probabilities of being picked up for licensing as a result of firms are at all times looking for on a regular basis playing cards. Whereas should you method them with solely seasonal playing cards, chances are high that they may not want the design as of now, for some time.
Don’t get me incorrect, presenting each card classes will someday or one other enable you change into a licensed artist, nevertheless, on a regular basis playing cards promote extra and are required extra by clients since they don’t have a set interval of peak gross sales.
On condition that they promote all yr spherical, the competitors is lots too, as a result of each artist wants constant gross sales. Therefore, once you create an on a regular basis card, make certain it’s not generic however is totally different and distinctive along with your spin on it.
The market has lots of ‘joyful birthday’ playing cards however should you take the identical event and create one thing out of the field, you’ll stand out it doesn’t matter what. I’d say, have a 60–40 ratio between day-after-day and seasonal designs. Although seasonal playing cards may spike your gross sales attributable to a distinct segment demand, on a regular basis playing cards will get you sustainable gross sales all yr spherical!
3. Bear in mind the area of interest classes
As I discussed within the earlier level relating to the ratio of the cardboard classes, the seasonal or ‘area of interest’ playing cards shouldn’t be uncared for altogether. Although they don’t promote all yr spherical, it’s finest to make good use of the restricted interval with an excellent design. In my expertise, Valentine’s Day and Mom’s Day drive lots of gross sales for me. Since my fashion leans extra in direction of female and floral parts, I select to focus extra on these two events. Likewise, different standard card classes like Christmas, Thanksgiving, Commencement, New Yr’s, and many others. may do this for you. It’s a matter of experimenting with each card class and discovering out what works finest to your artwork.
However what’s going to you do after the event is over? My sizzling tip could be to easily repurpose the design for an additional event! Play with the phrases, colours, and illustration parts. As an illustration, can your floral Mom’s Day card change into a birthday card? Go for it! Normally, card firms are okay with licensing playing cards which were licensed elsewhere; they solely search for a degree of distinction. This will assist your artwork be repurposed to its most potential. This tip is helpful once you require a contemporary design however don’t have the temper or time to make a brand new card!
4. Make designs with and with out phrases
Whereas there may be an undoubted expectation for greeting playing cards to have a message on them, clean playing cards (i.e. playing cards with out phrases) have a requirement as properly. Playing cards with phrases are extensively bought and are form of a norm within the trade since you’re normally expressing a sentiment once you ship somebody a card. Good lettering or typography paired with an emotion-provoking illustration could make a greeting card interesting. However what about playing cards with out phrases?
Clean playing cards have solely illustrations and no phrases on them. Christmas timber, floral bouquets, and summary patterns are some examples of clean card motifs. In my expertise, the most well-liked motifs are flowers. Florals promote properly as a result of they’re a common image of gift-giving.
Prospects should purchase a clean card and write something inside, whether or not it’s ‘get properly quickly,’ ‘considering of you’ or perhaps a ‘Joyful birthday!’. Clean playing cards enable shoppers to customise the within of the greeting card in any method as a result of the surface motif doesn’t characterize any specific event. Clean playing cards are for shoppers who could not choose daring, foolish designs however choose a easy one thing with simply an illustration. It’s a area of interest class however one to look out for! My finest tip to create clean playing cards is to repurpose current illustrations of yours that you will have created for Instagram or simply for enjoyable!
5. Experiment with tones
As individuals, we have now alternative ways of expressing our emotions. Some choose sarcastically whereas others could choose a cherishing method. Because of this your portfolio must replicate playing cards with totally different tones. Have quite a lot of playing cards that vary in tones equivalent to humorous, sarcastic, cheerful, heartfelt, naughty, honest, and many others. You needn’t faucet into all of them directly, however experiment with every tone.
For me, humorous and heartfelt playing cards promote one of the best. I attempted promoting sarcastic playing cards, however they didn’t do properly for me. Likewise, you possibly can faucet into one or two tonal concepts talked about above and see what works finest for you! This manner, you don’t miss out on a wider audience.
When you really feel confused, analysis and research different playing cards on-line with an identical fashion to yours and see what recurring tonalities seem. Once you go to on-line marketplaces, you’ll get an thought of the best-selling card designs, which could be utilized to your apply as properly. However don’t copy the concepts as is, make them your individual or just use them as inspiration. We don’t need to copy playing cards, even when we’re simply studying!
6. Preserve your portfolio updated
Now that you’ve got some basis laid out, you can begin designing playing cards as and once you’re ready. Bear in mind to replace your portfolio in an environment friendly timeline. I’d say each 6–8 months, hold including newer playing cards and take away older playing cards out of your portfolio to maintain it contemporary. After all, you possibly can modify the timeline as per your artwork profession, however that is what works for me.
When you get an thrilling undertaking days after you replace your portfolio, don’t draw back from posting it instantly! Regarding my first tip, displaying designs that characterize you is basically essential. Don’t hold older designs from which you might need grown out of as an artist.
In case you neglect to replace, set a future calendar date for your self so that you just bear in mind to remain on high of your sport! Lastly, take an excellent day or one week to correctly replace your portfolio, as a result of it is rather more likely to be consultant of you for the subsequent few months. Be sure to take your time in order that potential and current shoppers can see one of the best of your work that displays your greeting card abilities!
To conclude, these six suggestions are beginning factors so that you can have enjoyable and create extra greeting card designs that align you in direction of what you actually need to promote.
Bear in mind, that as greeting card designers, we get to be part of somebody’s life as candy little moments, so make certain your card portfolio displays that!
Written by Daksha Giri
Web site: www.dakshagiri.com
Instagram: @dakshagiri
Daksha Giri is an illustrator and lettering artist primarily based in India who creates stunning and distinctive art work that’s each visually interesting and emotionally resonant. Her work is seen in greeting playing cards, packaging, giftware & dwelling décor.