Another year, another amazing collection of Christmas cards by UAL students for Tate. not just a shop has one again worked with with Tate to bring you x9 trendy, comical and wholesome greetings cards, perfect for sending to your loved ones this Christmas time!
We’ve talked to all the UAL students whose designs won the festive card competition earlier this year. Read below to find out what x5 have to say about their inspiration and to see their design.
Click here to read part two of blog post, and discover the designs of the remaining x4 students.
Isoilluminations by Holly Ford-Hunt
What was the inspiration behind your design?
When I was in isolation, I decided to pick up my paintbrush and create something to do with how I was feeling. I was trapped in my room and needed an escape or a way to release all my energy; I did this through paint and bright colours. From this my Isoilluminations were born. I created a series of three paintings before painting my card for the competition. This particular design took inspiration from the Northern Lights and the way they merge into each other in the sky. I choose red and green to express a true Christmas feeling (and incorporate my name, Holly!) The paint splatters were added to fit in with the collection and to interpret snow falling.
What is your favourite thing about the festive period?
Every year I think about my favourite thing about the festive period and I can never decide on just one thing. However, the lights and decorations that warm the streets on your way home to a cosy atmosphere of the tree and more decorations around the house is one of the best feelings ever! Tinsel, lights, hot chocolate and a good movie – What more could you possibly want?!
Trendy Santa by Ishita Jalan
What was the inspiration behind your design?
The inspiration behind this design was to use the topic of ‘popism’ and mix it together with Christmas. I have portrayed Santa as modern and stylish to add pop to the card.
What is your favourite thing about the festive period?
As much as we enjoy food, lights, presents and music, the best thing about Christmas is spending time with friends and family. Christmas is a time to celebrate how important those closest to you are to you.
Woodland Home by Eve Jones
What was the inspiration behind your design?
I’m a big lover of woods as a visual setting, and am very drawn to their whimsical and gothic atmosphere. There’s something very mysterious and magical about a snowy, deep dark wood, and I wanted to play on visuals from the classic European fairy tales to emulate that cosy, wondrous nostalgia for winter. The little ice skating ghost is mostly for me: the gent is just enjoying the merriment of the season.
What is your favourite thing about the festive period?
My mother goes a little mad around the festive season, particularly with lights and kitschy little decorations we’ve collected over the years that all seem to have a bizarre story to them: like the heralding angel kangaroo tree ornament, or the bust of Frieda Kahlo, or the many Christmas flamingoes my dad enjoys placing artfully in the Nativity scene. One of my favourite things about December is my mother calling me up in the run up to my return home for Christmas, and promising me with great glee that the house will be all decorated when I get there, as if she’s preparing the house for my arrival. The train journey home is a close second, watching the wintry Northern scenery go by, and waiting for my mother to then show me round all the sacred spaces of decor she’s created.
Dot Baubles by Chloe Kang
What was the inspiration behind your design?
My design is always inspired by nature. All of my design follows the organic forms and my RGB Dot Baubles were no exception. The nature forms the shape of sphere because it has the smallest possible surface area for an enclosed shape. That tension on the surface creates clean and simple but whimsical forms.
I chose the colours carefully because people will send the cards to people they love. Blue represents calm, trust and intelligence, red passion and love, green harmony, stability and growth and yellow happiness, hope and spontaneity.
What is your favourite thing about the festive period?
I love Christmas because it’s one of the day people are generous and kind. People try to do the right thing. We really need this Christmas spirit right now. Innocent people are dying in war in the other parts of the world. (We are surprisingly ok!)
Silver Christmas by Yuki Lyu
What was the inspiration behind your design?
As part of a younger generation, the feeling of Christmas surrounding us mirrors how technology is always around us. In my view, shining material and 3D technology effects are fast becoming the future, explaining the design of my card.
What is your favourite thing about the festive period?
My favourites are mulled wine and the Christmas stocking!! These two items are very Christmassy and make me think about winter warmth and hope.