Looking for something a little offbeat to send to friends and family this Christmas? Instead of picking up a generic pack of Santa scenes, check out the baker’s dozen of Christmas cards dreamed up by University College of the Fraser Valley Graphic Design students.

The 13 UCFV students have been involved in a 3D packaging project designing a Christmas card gift box set. The students have designed one card each to make up the contents of the box. This graduation fundraising project has turned into a vital learning experience and has provided a forum that showcases their talents.  

“The students have visited many different trades within their industry in order to produce this project,” says instructor Mimmo Carbone. “Walking it through these environments ensures that it becomes market ready. It also boosts student confidence as they gain exposure to procedures and environments that will help them become industry ready.”  

The cards are an opportunity for each student to display their own unique and individual talents. This is important for design students, as their field is highly visual, and the boxed sets will be distributed, not only to the general public, but also to potential employers.  

The motivation behind this project is the student grad show to be held at the end of their final year. This is a well-organized one-week gallery showing. The opening night is a catered formal event, with key people in the industry as invited guests. The students are responsible for all the costs, so this fundraiser is very important.  

The class also initiated a marketing strategy to sell this gift package. This included the creation of posters, ads, press releases, and contacting retailers.  

 “We couldn't have pulled off this project without the cooperation of local businesses and trade shops,” says student Dean Tjepkema. “These include Coast Paper, which is generously providing the paper for printing the project; Fraser Valley Custom Printers, which has agreed to provide pre-press instruction and final offset printing of the cards; Arkwel Industries, which is providing the die cutting of the 3D package; West Pro Graphics, which is our supplier of the embossing dies; Q Graphics, which is doing the actual embossing; and lastly Innova Envelopes, which is taking care of our envelope needs.”  

The class is doing a limited run of 500 sets, which should be available by mid-November. There is also the possibility of doing a special run for a particular card if there is such a request.  

The costs are $14.95 per box with a student rate of $9.95. They are available at the UCFV Bookstore, and other retail outlets.  

To place an order, or for more detailed information, contact the Graphic Design office at 604-854-4543.