Christmas Paper-Cuts

Ok, so this flyer caught my eye in Starbucks - I thought the use of the hand-made, paper-cut look was a really successful way of making a faceless, global corporation appear personal, local and simple. A clever move if you're a global company like Starbucks in the midst of a recession, and your customers are more likely to resent the idea of handing yet more dollars over to the man...


I was intrigued to note that John Lewis had also opted for a paper-cut look for their Christmas ad campaign, which in this case really effectively reinforced their message of giving a gift almost tailor-made for the recipient...

I guess the paper-cut illustration aesthetic is a natural choice at Christmas, as it has a playful, almost fairy-tale feel to it, and it appeals to those shoppers seeking something special and bespoke.

Both designs reminded me of the work of Rob Ryan, who creates intricate hand-cut paper illustrations and it is perhaps not surprising that Ryan was commissioned by Fortnum & Mason to design their 2008 Christmas card range...

Really loving the paper-cut look, and as I say, can see why it is a natural choice for designers looking to cut through the tacky commercialism of the Christmas period!