It’s about now that designers will start to get booked up for festive work. I’ve just completed my first batch of cards for World Animal Protection (bears, snow…. squee!) and I am discussing 2021 planners and branding makeovers. It feels like a long time away but we’re now past the solstice and I’m going to be surrounded by fairy lights before long. Throughout my career I’ve Photoshopped reindeers in heatwaves, illustrated Easter eggs whilst the fireworks are popping outside and designed summer promotions as the snow fell… you get the idea!

Here’s some ideas for eye-catching marketing that you may want to consider sooner than later if you’re wanting to get 2022 off to a flying start.

• year planners

• customised diaries or wall planners

• new social media makeover for the New Year

• gratitude cards

• holiday cards or Christmas cards

• customised gifts for clients

• customised gift vouchers

If you’re self-publishing and wishing to launch a book for Christmas then you should be booking in the design now and have your editorial stages well on the way to completion. I have slots for August which may make it for pre-holiday launch but after that, it’ll be very uncertain as printers including KDP and Ingram Spark will be getting busy. End of September is the latest publication date that commercial publishing companies aim for in order to get their books in stores and into the book industry media.

Book launches are difficult to plan in the Covid climate but you could consider social media graphics to create publicity for an online reading, online book tours and website creation or a design refresh to support the publication if your launch is likely to be online. These are all areas I can help you with as a designer who works in publishing, branding and websites.

If the above has thrown out your schedules don’t panic yet! We can create a sample chapter for a download (here’s one I created earlier) to gain pre-orders and interest. We can also work your book cover too and get some interest on social media. Together, a cover and a sample chapter can be very effective.

Takeaway

Planning ahead for the holidays is great way to get focus but don’t leave it too late. If you’re worried about dates, then please get in touch and we can work on a schedule together and explore the options.

To book a 15 minute no-obligation call you can book on my calendar or drop me a email on the form. Here’s the contact page