Artist agencies are not just a great source of imagery for greeting card publishers, but due to their wide reach into other fields are also an invaluable gauge of design trends and influences on the aesthetic pulse of the nation.
In the third of a series, Bhavisha Vadgama, art licensing manager of Advocate Art shares what she feels will be driving our design tastes by highlighting a trio of trends.
Waikiki Wishes
“Life is good in Waikiki, and why wouldn’t it be, when you spend every day in paradise? The smell of hibiscus flowers floats on the breeze, bird calls fill the air, and wherever you go, no one is short of a tropical drink or just coming off the beach, surfboard in tow.
Waikiki Wishes is tropical with a Big Island twist; a welcome escape and well deserved break on a sunny, sandy beach. This trend is inspired by the bright, bold and vibrant colours of Hawaii, paired with exotic florals, citrus fruits and coastal vibes.
With tropical motifs such as Palm trees, seashells, hibiscus flowers, surfboards, pineapples and flamboyant drinks being just some of the most trendy icons in the market right now, we think Waikiki Wishes is going to be especially popular for the summer to come.”
(Image: A Claire McElfatrick design reflecting the Waikiki Wishes trend.)
Frosted Mistletoe
“Imagine a quiet cabin in a boreal setting, smoke slowly rising from the chimney, hinting at the cosy scene inside – a veritable winter wonderland, and the setting for Frosted Mistletoe. The snowy forest outside contains many Arctic animal friends, while the hearth inside has a crackling fire, and the decor a soft, muted palette mirroring the pristine nature outside.
To sum it up: Frosted Mistletoe is a theme focusing on the quieter, serene moments of the winter season. This trend is inspired by the rustic cabin settings and contemporary botanicals, while still featuring classic icons, such as mistletoe, snow-covered trees, eucalyptus, squirrels, pinecones, cabins, berries, Arctic foxes, pine sprigs, Snowy owls, dried florals, wreaths, blown glass ornaments and polar bears. Focusing on more earthy tones and rural textures, this trend celebrates Christmas in the great outdoors, while offering up a more relaxed, peaceful feeling to give you that cosy feeling around the holidays.”
(Image: A veritable winter wonderland by Natalie Briscoe.)
Celestial Celebrations
“The night sky has always captured our imaginations, especially when the stars are clear and the air is crisp. With the recent Lunar eclipses, there has definitely been a peaked interest in how the stars are aligned!
Celestial Celebrations explores this as well as the light that illuminates the evenings – stars, candles, and moonlight. This astrology-inspired trend celebrates the spiritual world, from planets and constellations to horoscopes, creating that mystical feel. We’re seeing more appearances of crescent moons, crowns, angels, stars, ballerinas and princesses, astronomical maps, sunbursts, halos, taper candles and twinkling fairy lights.
The colours of this trend are much deeper and richer, inspired by the jewel tones of the night sky – royal blue, gold, silver, purples and pinks, we think this trend will lead to more unisex designs but with an edgy twist for both Christmas and everyday captions.”
(Image: The stars are bright in this Jenny Wren design.)
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