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The Current

The design behind the perfect greeting card

As part of our project "By Design", we look at what it takes to make the perfect greeting card for the holiday season.
CBC Radio ·
The Current25:00The design behind the perfect greeting card - Dec 18, 2014

From Santa's sleigh ... to singing tacos ... there is a greeting card to cover every one of life's occasions. And behind those cards is a fiercely competitive billion-dollar industry that prides itself on tapping into your deepest emotions. As part of our series, By Design, Jason Proctor delves into the making of the perfect greeting card.

Simon-Taylor Kielty is the creator of the legendary UK cards called "Forever Friends". He is also a three time nominee for The Henries award. (the Oscars for greeting card creators)

As a huge Coronation Street fan. Simon was delighted to notice behind Steve McDonald's head on a mantel in the Rover Return was a "Forever Friends" card. One of the first Christmas cards Simon created!

Simon-Taylor Kielty is the creator of the legendary UK cards called "Forever Friends". He is also a three time nominee for The Henries award. (the Oscars for greeting card creators)
As a huge Coronation Street fan. Simon was delighted to notice behind Steve McDonald's head on a mantel in the Rover Return was a "Forever Friends" card. One of the first Christmas cards Simon created!

Perhaps nothing says "Merry Christmas" like a slightly maniacal robot-Santa voice... for some. For others, a more subdued card with a placid, Krieghoff skating scene, really illustrates a blessed yuletide. Or maybe a naughty looking elf saying "yule be sorry."

No matter your own personal holiday style, odds are there's a holiday card out there to match it. That's because Christmas is still the "big show," for the greeting card industry.

Christmas accounts for roughly 30 per cent of the 600 million greeting cards Canadians still give, and receive, every year. And behind each and every one of those holiday greetings, is a carefully crafted design.

Today our season-long series By Design is getting seasonal, with a look at just what goes into designing the perfect greeting card.

CBC reporter Jason Proctor has been on the case, and he joined Anna Maria from Vancouver.

The winner of the 2011 Louie awards for The Card of the Year in the $3.50 and above price division is the American Greetings Hamburger Musical Card. ​

I'm a hamburger, hamburger, hamburger, and today is your birthday! I'm juicy and delicious, and I just want to say, happy birthday, birthday, birthday, to you! Yay for your birthday! Hope it's happy and delicious!

Have you received this singing taco card like Jason did from his Mother-In-Law?

What would you like ... chicken or beef? Today is your birthday, you have to believe. I wish you the best, hope your day is just bueno. Feliz cumpleanos from your Singing Taco!

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