How to create unique festive designs without the clichés

Tired of holiday design clichés, like basic red and green, snowflakes, and Santas? We are, too. So when we started working on our annual holiday catalog, we wanted to create something different, something that will inspire more unique festive designs.

Guided by the five senses, our 2024 holiday catalog calls on the best festive feels, like cozy knitted sweaters, the smell of peppermint, and the sound of glasses clinking. Browse through our catalog for the best holiday design inspiration for Business Cards, Greeting Cards, and Notebooks, and read on for even more ideas from our design experts.

Focusing on the little things to ignite that holiday spark

Back in May, the brief for MOO’s 2024 holiday catalog landed on our Head of Design Rachel Rodgers’ desk, and she kept coming back to one question to spark her creativity.

“What is it exactly that makes us feel joy, warmth, fulfillment, and resolution? Pine trees, gifts, and snowflakes remind us of the holidays—but really, it’s the taste of peppermint, the sound of bells, the sight of glittering lights against a dark sky—the subtleties in our five senses that make us anticipate and revel in the holiday season,” says Rachel. “So, the challenge for our designers was to create customizable holiday designs based on the five senses that truly emanated that holiday feeling.”

In the same way, thinking about more out-of-the-box elements that express the excitement of the season will make your holiday marketing stand out among all the red and green.

Looking to the things that bring us joy

“I loved the opportunity to zoom in on those smaller experiences that can get easily overlooked within holiday chaos,” says Marissa Carey, a Production Artist at MOO, of her approach to creating concepts for the catalog. “I started by looking back at moments in past holiday seasons that brought me joy. What did that moment feel like? Look like? Sound like? From there it was easier to start putting ideas on paper.”

Marissa and the team focused on how things like textiles bring comfort, and how that comfort can be depicted in colors and patterns. But her favorite unique festive design came from her colleague, Abby Light, who created the Clinking Glasses concept.

“It’s such a creative way to depict sound. It’s dynamic, bold, and has a playful style nod to mid-century modern design. I can’t wait to order a set for myself!”

Getting inspired by the feelings of the season

Ricky Perrotta, a Junior Graphic Designer at MOO, spent time thinking about each of the five senses, and came up with a specific visualization for each one.

“For Smell, I was inspired by the scent of anise and cinnamon and showed that through warm colors. For Touch, I wanted to visualize how it feels when cool air is on your face. I imagined an ice skater carving up a frozen pond with the cold breeze blowing through their hair.

For Hearing I was originally inspired by holiday music, but that idea morphed into more of “Sounds of Peace” during the holiday season and I focused on trying to capture the vibe of a snowy afternoon. The way the world is quiet and you can hear snow falling is very peaceful.

Finally, for See, I wanted it to be fun and visual and really give a sense of what you would see at a New Year’s Eve party.”

Pushing boundaries for 2024

After eight years of directing the design for MOO’s holiday catalogs, Rachel wanted this year’s to push boundaries so our products would stand out in all the sameness the season tends to bring.

“Could we push a color palette that would pop against all the red and green? Could we evoke a message of peace without illustrating a dove or olive branch? This is where the five senses really came into play,” says Rachel.

We know these designs will resonate because they offer more than just a traditional holiday greeting. There was a lot of thought behind each one, and that’s why they’ll spark joy and evoke that feeling of the holidays.

“Take the New Year’s Eve glitter card,” says Rachel. “I think on the surface, it’s a simple design. But when the card is opened and closed, the recipient will see the shimmery silver foil effect in action and feel like they’re walking through a silver beaded curtain into a swanky NYE party!”

Ready to bring your holiday vision to life with unique festive designs?

As with all MOO products, we want these designs to offer up inspiration, and show off the fact that nothing needs to look uniform or clichéd. “Wherever you are on your gifting journey, whatever you want to achieve, we’re here to bring your vision to life,” says Rachel.

Reach out to us now to explore all the customization options that come with our unique festive designs and create printed products that will get your brand noticed this holiday season.