CR Blog

Ho Ho Ho!

Advertising, Books, Graphic Design, Illustration, Music Video / Film

Posted by Eliza Williams, 17 December 2008, 14:11    Permalink    Comments (20)

Every December at CR we are lucky enough to receive an array of wonderful cards and, in more recent years, films wishing us a Merry Christmas (while also deftly demonstrating the creative talents of the senders). Here is a selection of our favourites so far from this year... plus a few other Christmassy things that are going on around London. First up is this charming little film from AKQA London.

Wieden + Kennedy in London has created a Christmas Card Making Machine in the front window of its offices in Hanbury Street, E1. Passers-by can see their face join a chain of Christmas characters that scroll in the window by standing in the snowy footprints outside. By then visiting christmascardmakingmachine.com, they can view all the images online before creating and personalising their very own card.

This film from Blink Productions in London emphasises what Christmas is really all about...

But those of you who are less cynical might want to visit this Wishing Well by design agency Freestate which is currently on display in Covent Garden in London. The Wishing Well allows visitors to speak their wishes into their mobile phone and then automatically converts them to text that is displayed across the inner walls of the Well in real time. The wishes can also be viewed online here: spinvoxwishingwell.com.


Photo: Andrew Meredith

If you're out and about in central London, you should also check out the festive window display in Selfridges.

Freelance designer/director Andy Martin has created this animated festive short.

We received this amusing card from StudioThomson.

And this angelic one from JohnsonBanks, which the design firm has created by 'recycling' an old magazine found round the office.

This environmentally conscious approach has been adopted by many companies, who have taken to sending e-cards rather than paper ones. This one is from St Luke's, who have created a website where you can throw an e-snowball at your friends and send a personalised message, such as the one above.

Lowe's staff have gallantly created a singing card/website, which can be seen here, while a choir also appear in Jung von Matt's interactive e-card, which can be found here.

The Design Council uses its e-card to make a serious point about the environment. Other firms, including Good Creative have also used their e-cards to trumpet their good deeds. M&C Saatchi has also taken this approach, but at least have created a rather nice film too. Lastly though, is a bit of good old fun from Framestore - a surprisingly tricky game, based on the movie The Tale of Despereaux.

Merry Christmas everybody!

UPDATE: This just in from Farrow - move your mouse to change the direction of the falling snow.

20 Comments

Some really good Christmas e-cards here. We (TMW) created this one for T-Mobile...

http://www.t-mobilechristmas.co.uk

It allows you to write a personalised Christmas message to your friends in neon lights.
Luke
2008-12-17 15:11:31

I just received the lovely Design Council film, but noticed there was no credit in the post above – it is designed by the very talented A+B Studio http://aplusbstudio.com/large.html. And the static image really doesn't do it justice!
Ben
2008-12-17 15:13:16

Oops sorry, forgot to put the link to the Design Council card in. Have put it in now.
CR Eliza Williams
2008-12-17 15:26:20

also a very nice Christmas Window Display at AMV BBDO...

http://www.booooooom.com/2008/12/16/tiptoe-collective-amv-bbdo/
emma
2008-12-17 15:33:13

I keep being told to be kind to the environment and not send christmas cards. While this appears a little mean spirited i think AKQA running a load of microwaves may be a little excessive.
tom
2008-12-17 16:12:08

Wishing all you creative folk a very merry Christmas & happy New Year.

from the biggest little agency in town
Sonaa
2008-12-18 13:40:59

I have just completed an MA project on the relative merits of print versus web and spent a lot of time looking into the environmental costs of each. The internet seems to have developed a reputation for being environmentally inert, whilst print is being treated as a nasty environmental devil. The truth is far from clear cut, the internet's servers alone use unbelievable amounts of energy, not to mention disposal of computers dumping nasties into landfill etc, etc..

I'll be posting my tradtional cards this year!
Sheila MD
2008-12-18 15:14:18

AKQA's microwaves are undoubtedly top of the tree. Love it. Here's our offering for the festive season. pc.
Paul Connop
2008-12-18 15:40:37

These are great! I also love how creative people can be with their Christmas trees...

http://www.joe-ks.com/archives_dec2007/RedneckChristmasTree.htm

If the link doesn't work... Google "Joe ks Redneck Christmas Tree"
Emma Burch
2008-12-18 15:48:39

AKQA's offering is pretty cool. Nice one guys.
Michael Preston
2008-12-18 15:50:41

TALKING OF UNIQLO - Which i was elsewhere on this blog

http://www.uniqlo.com/grid/
David Brown
2008-12-18 16:54:43

I really like the recycled magazine idea here's one we done...

http://www.viridian-online.com/xmas/
Gary
2008-12-18 17:01:12

I like http://www.santasbeard.com
Turd
2008-12-18 18:12:09

Awesome to see in these frugal times so much time and resource spent on film productions for Christmas Cards. Microwaves pinging to make a tune - AKQA I salute you!
Chris Parker
2008-12-19 10:02:56

Great stuff. StudioThompson's one is brilliant.

Here's our little effort:

In the unique economic times facing the world as we leave 2008, there isn't a company or individual that hasn't been affected by the global financial crisis. But perhaps the biggest shock of all is the story of Andy. The talented, ambitious toymaker, tragically laid off by Santa.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=09ZZEsrKgTc

Peace!
Amp
2008-12-19 11:02:05

Good job AKQA! Here at Collective, we've given our homepage a little festive cheer. Don’t worry, we smoothed things over with the police!

If you take a look, be sure to turn up your sound.

http://www.collectivelondon.com
Serena
2008-12-19 11:33:12

Augmented reality robots for Christmas? Better than socks!

http://specialmoves.com/xmas/
Laura
2008-12-19 11:37:44

Check out this one
Tom Hutchings
2008-12-19 12:23:18

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KpTGPBzAT8s
Tom Hutchings
2008-12-19 12:29:36

http://www.2fresh.com/2009/
wishes a happy fresh year..
2FRESH
2009-01-01 23:24:43

Tell us what you think

What happens with my feedback?

What happens with my feedback?

We no longer require you to register and have a password in order to comment, simply fill in the form below. All comments are moderated so you may experience a short delay before your comment appears. CR encourages comments to be short and to the point. As a general rule, they should not run longer than the original post. Comments should show a courteous regard for the presence of other voices in the discussion. We reserve the right to edit or delete comments that do not adhere to this standard.

Share This — Social Bookmarking

Get the RSS Feed
Related subjects and keywords

Subject:

Advertising, Books, Graphic Design, Illustration, Music Video / Film

Keywords:

M&C Saatchi

More like this

Articles:

M%26C+SAATCHI

2942

CR iPad app
Get CR on your iPad Now on the app store, the Creative Review iPad app
NULL