We’ll start by acknowledging the obvious: these arrived fashionably late.
This year’s holiday gift from Stan Can Design took the form of holiday tags, illustrated by Stan Byers. The idea was simple—give something small, useful, and well-made. Something that could live beyond the moment and earn its keep year after year. If all goes according to plan, you can officially cross “holiday tags” off your shopping list for next season.
A Familiar Influence (Whether We Noticed or Not)
After the fact, we started noticing something familiar in the work. The colors. The rhythm. The graphic confidence. It turns out that Stephen Frykholm’s iconic watermelon poster, longtime resident of the Stan Can office, may have been quietly doing its thing all along.
It’s been hanging on our wall for so many years that we stopped really seeing it. Which made the realization even better. A reminder that inspiration doesn’t always arrive loudly or on purpose. Ideas come from sensations. Sensations come from what surrounds us. And sometimes, from the art you walk past every day without thinking twice.
Illustrated, Start to Finish
Each tag was illustrated by Stan, with care given to color, form, and that slightly nostalgic feeling we tend to gravitate toward. They’re playful without being precious, graphic without being rigid—meant to feel good in your hand and even better tied onto something you’re excited to give.
Like most Stan Can projects, they sit somewhere between design object and everyday tool. Not too precious to use. Not too plain to forget about.
Want a Full Set?
If you love them (and want to be very prepared next year), full sets of the holiday tags are available to order. Whether you’re wrapping gifts for family, friends, or clients, they’re designed to work across styles and occasions, and to be reused year after year.
You can order a full set here. No rushing required. We’ve already proven they still work even when they arrive a little late.
Send me the goods.
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