Year after Year
Why do we talk about our Christmas Cards?
Like every year, shortly before December we ask ourselves what kind of Christmas gift we want to give away and, more importantly, what that should even look like. The decision that we wanted to send out physical cards was quickly more than just an idea. The resulting process was something unique, even for us as a digital agency. From 3D printed templates, to ChatGPT algorithm prompts, to the use of our specially developed label assistant for Herma - We needed it all.
At the beginning we had to come up with an idea. Brainstorming, sketching, brainstorming again, sketching again. We ended up advancing an existing and previously unpublished idea. Namely, pairs of words that each begin with an "F" and are connected by an "&" - just like us: FrankandFriends. The highlight? The last word chain is "Frohes * Fest". (German for: Merry Christmas)
The challenge? Arranging the pairs in such a way that there are 3 pairs in each line and at the same time making sure that each line contains the same number of characters. Our pixel font is monospace, so it was essential that the word pairs had neither leading nor trailing space. A task that would have taken a lot of effort to do manually, we were able to complete in just a few minutes with the right prompts in ChatGPT.
The idea? Don't just hand task to the AI, but rather instructing it to design an algorithm that mathematically checks all combinations. The prompt: Develop an algorithm for discrete packing optimization with exact-fit constraints. Base the procedure on a triple-nested combinatorial iteration that enumerates all triples of the given word pairs and tests them for exact length compatibility using a linear test variant. We then gave the AI / the AI's algorithm the predetermined word combinations to process them. The outcome? We got the only possible mathematically combination for our procedure in less than 2 minutes.
We then prepared the dispatch so that once the cards were printed, they could be sent directly. Given the number of cards and our preference for a technically clean, error-resistant and repeatable solution, we knew immediately that we won't label the envelopes by hand. The solution? The online label wizard we developed for Herma. As the address data for the mailing was already available digitally anyway, the effort was minimal. Simply upload the table to the Herma assistant, select Multi Print, place the Herma address labels in the printer's normal paper tray and print.
To ensure that the address labels could be stuck neatly and evenly onto the envelopes, we got creative again. Have we mentioned that we tend to be able to do things cleanly, consistently and repeatably? Well, in order to really apply the labels evenly, we simply measured the envelopes and modeled a 3D template with a suitable cut-out for the address labels.
We then printed the template in our 3D printer using PLA and captured it on a timelapse. The three-dimensional modeling of objects is not part of our actual range of services, but as a thoroughly tech-enthusiastic team, it's almost part of the job.
The Success
The FUF Christmas Card 2025
And so another year goes by in which we have successfully sent a card, gift or other little something for Christmas to our customers and interested parties. With the exception that this time we have given a little insight into the otherwise technically uninteresting creation and design of our christmas card. Above all, we were able to discover that the right prompting with artificial intelligence produces much more elaborate results than just writing something quickly. It's not just about the wording, but also about actively considering which methodology is most likely to lead to promising result and then guiding the AI in this direction.