Creating unique and memorable holiday cards allows Gordley Group to fully express our creative capabilities in a way that produces a one-of-a-kind, nontraditional greeting that is often not a card, but instead a keepsake to bring people inspiration and entertainment year-round. We pushed the boundaries of creativity with our annual holiday card by creating a 3-D "Desktop Jukebox" with 13 custom Spotify playlists that clients could play by simply scanning a code. The playlists were carefully curated with tongue-in-cheek titles, such as "Turn Your Day Around," and were designed to give clients a sense of nostalgia and uplift their spirits. By integrating digital use through the Spotify app with print materials, Gordley Group demonstrated their innovation and commitment to providing a unique and memorable experience for their clients. The holiday card served as a timeless keepsake that subconsciously reminded clients of Gordley's creative services year-round.
To create a fun holiday card that engaged our clients, felt personal and was a keepsake, our creative team developed the “Gordley Desktop Stereo” with modern versions of the classic mixed tape. Using Spotify and QR codes, the team created a mailer that used digital integration, giving our clients curated music to listen to year-round.
Each team member made a playlist that matched their personality. From classic oldies to R&B, we had playlists for everyone. Such playlists – or “mixed tapes” – included “Get Rockin’ and Rollin’ on that Proposal” and “End Your TikTok Confusion.”
Through our discovery process, the team found that humor was an element our clients appreciated and looked forward to every year. Because of that, the team gave each playlist a punny work-related title and added little tongue-in-cheek jokes to the stereo dials like “Make the Logo Bigger” or “Quality vs. Speed.”
To execute the design, the team created a mood board and color palettes for consistency with the retro late-80s early-90s feel. Visual inspirations included pattern motifs, early 90s stereos, boom boxes and cassette tapes. Our team handcrafted each illustration demonstrating our team’s capabilities, making this gift truly unique.
To enhance the tactile experience, we partnered with a local printer to explore ways to make the idea dimensional, high-quality and innovative. We explored various solutions, landing on a four-panel brochure-sized piece with a sticky tab to convert it into a “Gordley Desktop Stereo.” We also added a matte finish varnish to make it cool to the touch. Elements like the vinyl record came to life with a realistic, grooved feel. Finally, we included an instruction card to inform our clients how to use the codes and convert their card to a “Gordley Desktop Stereo.”