Despite the fact that many people actually prefer gift cards to shot-in-the-dark gifts chosen by others, they’re still somehow perceived as a bit, well, low rent. The Oxlot 9 restaurant in Covington, La. has torpedoed this perception by employing a gift card that features one-color offset, a die-cut holder and gold foil stamping. The result is a printed piece with a look and feel that seems as special as a communication from the queen.
Printed by Southern Engraving on Neenah Classic Crest Antique Gray 100 lb. Cover, [Get Swatchbook] the card was designed by Odie Partners and is a prime example of less is more, with the logo and a tiny amount of writing foil stamped tastefully on the front. The card number is a nice touch suggesting limited edition status, and emphasizing that this isn’t just something hastily purchased from a drug store kiosk on the way home from work.
The holder is a masterpiece of understatement, printed on Neenah Classic Crest Epic Black 100 lb. Cover and featuring just the fish logo foil stamped on the front, as well as die cutting on both sides at the top and bottom to hold a custom gold rubber band that matches the logo.
“Oxlot 9 has a simple-yet-sophisticated approach to seasonal ingredients found in the region served,” says the designer. “Simple-yet-sophisticated” nicely sums up this gift card, too.
