Last month the American Greeting Card Association held its annual celebration of the greetings industry at The Louie Awards 2011, held at New York’s Espace on May 16.
Launced in 1988, The Louie’s help to reinforce the creating, sending and receiving of greetings cards by recognising the wonderful art, editorial and design work that goes into the production of these beautiful paper products and highlighting the most outstanding cards marketed in the US during the previous calendar year.
Officially known as the International Greeting Card Awards Competition, the LOUIEs are named after Louis Prang, the German-born Boston lithographer credited with the birth of the U.S. Christmas card in the 1870s. There are dozens of winners in total, here are a few of our favourites from this year’s batch.
First up on the left is this design from Great Arrow Graphics, which won the Award for best Valentine’s design for $3.50 and below, which puts love right at the center of the cosmos.
As bona fide bee lovers this lovely ‘New Hive’ captioned card from Some of me (left), which won the best Congratulations/Special Occasions for above $3.50 really hit the spot.
On the right is an elegant and graceful Thank You card from Red Oak Press, the Rising Star above $3.50 for 2011.
We also loved this Papyrus children’s birthday card for above $3.50 – any child would be delighted to receive this cute smiley lion on their big day!
For mum over on the other side is Dayspring Cards winning Mother’s Day for above $3.50 design. Simple but effective design with thoughtful and beautifully expressed sentiment that’s bound to make her feel special.
Below left is the winner of the best Everyday Boxed Note cards for above $3.50 by Compendium. If its artwork that attracts the eye to a design it’s usually the words that sell it, and this sentiment about Gratitude – the ‘Memory of the Heart’ – presses all the right buttons.
Last but definitely not least is this super stylish design from Turnowsky, which consistently produces some of the most beautiful greetings cards in the world and which is about to hit the British market in a big way following a new distribution agreement with UK Greetings. This year Turnowsky scooped the award for best blank card for above $3.50.
