GCU is looking for new Chinese New Year cards for in-law relationships, and this is a lovely opportunity to add some relationship-specific designs to your portfolio.

The categories currently needing attention are:

Chinese New Year > In Laws / Parents in Law
cid#39846

Chinese New Year > Mother in Law
cid#39848

Chinese New Year > Father in Law
cid#39850

These are for general Chinese New Year cards rather than zodiac-sign-specific designs, so think of cards that can be sent year after year.

Designing Beyond the Zodiac

It can be tempting to reach immediately for the animal of the year when designing for Chinese New Year, but these categories call for something more evergreen.

There is plenty of visual inspiration available without using zodiac animals: red envelopes, lanterns, plum blossoms, peonies, oranges and mandarins, fireworks, decorative knots, fans, festive family gatherings and elegant red-and-gold patterns can all suggest the celebration.

You could also explore different styles, from traditional and elegant to contemporary illustration, cute characters, florals, paper-cut-inspired designs or sophisticated typography.

The important extra ingredient here is the relationship.

A beautiful Chinese New Year design can become much more useful to a shopper when it specifically says Mother-in-Law, Father-in-Law or Parents-in-Law.

Parents-in-Law

Cards for parents-in-law can focus on family, togetherness, gratitude and wishes for happiness and prosperity in the year ahead.

Some wording ideas:

Warm and traditional

• Wishing Wonderful Parents-in-Law a Happy and Prosperous New Year
• May the New Year Bring You Both Happiness, Good Health and Good Fortune
• Warmest Chinese New Year Wishes to Two Very Special Parents-in-Law
• Wishing You Both a Year Filled with Happiness, Harmony and Prosperity
• Happy Chinese New Year to Wonderful Parents-in-Law

More personal

• So Grateful to Have You Both in My Family. Happy Chinese New Year!
• Wishing My Wonderful Parents-in-Law All the Happiness the New Year Can Bring
• Family Makes Every Celebration More Special. Happy Chinese New Year to You Both!
• Sending Love and Warm Wishes to Two Very Special Parents-in-Law

There is also room to design from different senders’ perspectives. A message from a son-in-law or daughter-in-law can make an already niche card even more specific.

Mother-in-Law

For Mother-in-Law cards, artists can explore everything from elegant florals and sophisticated traditional designs to warmer family-oriented cards.

Some possibilities:

• Happy Chinese New Year to a Wonderful Mother-in-Law
• Wishing a Very Special Mother-in-Law Happiness and Prosperity in the New Year
• May Your New Year Be Filled with Happiness, Good Health and Beautiful Moments
• Warmest New Year Wishes to a Dear Mother-in-Law
• So Lucky to Have a Mother-in-Law Like You. Happy Chinese New Year!
• Wishing My Lovely Mother-in-Law a Bright and Joyful New Year
• May Good Fortune and Happiness Follow You Throughout the Year
• With Love to a Wonderful Mother-in-Law at Chinese New Year

And don’t overlook humor if it suits your style. In-law humor doesn’t have to rely on tired mother-in-law jokes. Something affectionate and playful can work beautifully:

• I Really Hit the In-Law Jackpot. Happy Chinese New Year!
• Wishing My Mother-in-Law Good Fortune, Great Food and Absolutely No Family Drama!
• Here’s to a New Year of Happiness, Prosperity and Me Staying on Your Good Side!

Father-in-Law

Father-in-Law is another relationship that can easily be incorporated into both traditional and contemporary designs.

Try wording such as:

• Happy Chinese New Year to a Wonderful Father-in-Law
• Wishing a Very Special Father-in-Law Good Health, Happiness and Prosperity
• Warmest Wishes for a Happy and Prosperous New Year, Father-in-Law
• May the New Year Bring You Good Fortune and Many Reasons to Celebrate
• Wishing My Wonderful Father-in-Law a Year Filled with Happiness and Success
• With Warmest Wishes to a Great Father-in-Law at Chinese New Year
• Lucky New Year, Lucky Family, Lucky Me to Have You as My Father-in-Law
• Here’s to Good Fortune, Good Food and a Great New Year!

Think Like the Shopper

Relationship-specific categories are a good place to remember that shoppers often aren’t simply searching for a Chinese New Year card. They’re searching for the Chinese New Year card that feels as though it was made for their particular recipient.

That little phrase on the front, For My Mother-in-Law, Wonderful Father-in-Law or For Two Special Parents-in-Law, can be exactly what turns a general design into the card they were hoping to find.

You can take an existing visual idea in your portfolio and create a relationship-specific variation, or use these categories as an excuse to create something entirely new.

Just keep these designs general rather than zodiac-year specific, and they’ll have the added advantage of being relevant every Chinese New Year.

Happy designing, and may your creative year be very prosperous indeed! 🧧

Corrie