Make Your Holiday Card Stand Out From the Crowd

A thoughtful holiday greeting is a simple way to thank clients, recognize partners and supporters and celebrate the relationships that helped you accomplish your goals. As inboxes and mailboxes begin filling up with season’s greetings and New Year’s wishes over the coming weeks, many of this year’s cards are destined to have something in common: that telltale AI look. 

By now, many of us can spot an AI-generated image from a mile away, from cookie-cutter layouts and soulless, cartoonish images to distracting design elements that leave everything looking cluttered. Plain and simple, it’s bad design.

Just because anyone can generate a graphic in seconds doesn’t mean they should. Your holiday card should reflect your brand, not look like something pulled together from a basic template or generated via prompt. These days, a designer’s expertise, creativity and personal touch matters more than ever. 

While AI may be able to generate a holiday card in seconds, that doesn’t mean it can capture what makes your organization unique. That’s where our designers come in: with fresh ideas and an understanding of your brand, they can help you create something personal, authentic and worthy of a second look rather than going straight to the trash bin. 

A little inspiration goes a long way

Not sure where to start? Take a look at these past designs to see how we’ve helped clients bring their seasonal greetings to life.

OPSR: The Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness has a long list of partners, board members and supporters to connect with at the end of each year. We helped them say “Happy Holidays” by crafting a classic holiday card that put its people front and center. It’s a great example of how to incorporate your team while keeping the design warm and professional. 

Arledge: Our client Arledge & Associates opts for an annual New Year's card, a great way to stand out during an already crowded season. For last season’s card, we crafted a sleek, sophisticated design with navy glitter, shiny gold and a team photo complete with flying blue confetti. The design pairs well with the energy of the photo, resulting in a greeting that’s polished without being too stuffy. 

PLPR: For our 2025 holiday greeting, we traded a traditional printed card for a digital design with an animated element that brought the design to life. Digital greetings offer boundless opportunities to incorporate movement and visual effects that make your message feel dynamic and engaging. If you’re considering a digital message this year, ask us how animation can add an extra bit of sparkle!

If holiday cards aren’t on your to-do list yet, it's not too late! There’s still time to send something memorable. Don’t settle for a holiday card that looks like everyone else’s. Email lang@plprglobal.com and let us help you create something people will actually remember.