Card Designer Spotlight x Amy Zhang
The Card Designer Spotlight is a series featuring independent makers whose greeting cards you can find in Paper Source stores. Meet and be inspired by a new designer every month on our blog!
This month, we're excited to spotlight our featured card designer, Amy Zhang (& Raffy her adorable dog). Discover her journey as a Louie Award winner and celebrate her achievements as the founder of a women-owned, family-run, American-made company!
How did you begin your card-making career?
"Officially, my card-making career started as a creative outlet-- I started a daily painting challenge back in 2018, which eventually turned into a handful of card designs. Unofficially, that career first started taking root when I was a child. I have always loved cards. I made cards for my parents every year for Mother's Day and Father's Day. I made a beeline to the card racks in every book shop, grocery store, or gift shop. In high school, I started reading stationery blogs and admiring all the booths at the National Stationery Show. Honestly, I'm surprised it took me all the way until my late 20s to officially launch a greeting card business."
Where do you draw inspiration from?
"I like to say that my cards are a true reflection of my favorite things, which would explain why good and Millennial nostalgia are such a consistent themes in my work! As for the puns - I think it's just how my brain is wired! A lot of puns come from my day-to-day conversations with my husband (a fellow English major), and sometimes they simply just pop into my head. I keep a running list to pull from when I'm designing new collections"
What is your favorite part about being a women owned and family operated company?
"Besides getting to hang out with my husband and our dog all day? It's so rewarding to see how such a small operation can still have a big impact. The business allows me to do what I love, it supports my family, and it allows me to partner with so many other amazing women-owned businesses around the country. A true win-win!"
You have won many Louie Awards for your cards, what is the process like for winning a Louie Award?
"While it's amazing to win an award, I love that the Greeting Card Association makes the Louies a celebration of the industry as a whole. The entire process, from submitting designs to the awards ceremony, is easy, accessible, and peer-driven. It's such a cool experience, and truly an honor to be recognized by our industry! Not just that - being part of the Louie Awards has presented really amazing new opportunities for growth, including now having our cards carried in Barnes & Noble and Paper Source. "
What is a fun fact or personal tidbit?
"My dog, Raffy, is our little mascot, and my illustration of him is on the back of every single one of our cards:)"
Find cards from Amy Zhang such as Tree Ring Birthday Card , You Rule Card and Jala At Ya at your local store or online at papersource.com. For more inspiration and behind the scenes action, follow @shopamyzhang
