We recently told you about Mohawk’s partnership with MOO.COM ^[1] for the launch of MOO’s new Luxe product line: The first super thick, letterpress-quality paper line for use in the on-demand, digital print space. Today MOO has announced more Luxe related news with the launch of The Luxe Project ^[2], a monthly, limited edition collection of designs by graphic artists and illustrators. And the inaugural collection is designed by Michael Osborne ^[3].

The Luxe Project, a series of limited edition, super-premium Luxe Business Cards ^[4], will include collections from high-profile designers and illustrators. Available on MOO.COM, a new collection will debut each month throughout 2012 with 100% of the net proceeds donated to the designer’s charity of choice.

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Osborne’s collection includes 40 unique designs benefiting Joey’s Corner ^[6], a non-profit design studio founded in 2004 to honor the memory of Osborne’s son. Its mission is to provide pro-bono, professional design services to nonprofit organizations focused on solving healthcare, children’s and social well-being issues.

Of the project’s launch, MOO.COM’s CEO and Founder said, “We believe in the power of great design, and design is key to everything MOO does. It is only fitting that The Luxe Project features our most premium product to date alongside limited edition works of art. I am excited to kick off The Luxe Project with Michael, especially given the noble mission of Joey’s Corner and the emotional connection Michael has to his MOO Luxe collection.”

Osborne’s collection consists of four sets of cards each centering around the theme “Love and Hearts.” He says that because the design surface is small he immediately thought of the numerous design explorations from his USPS Love stamps ^[7]. So he started by working with elements from the various designs and created a group of stamp related designs, and a group of colorful patterns which became the Work of Hearts ^[2] collection. Then, he traveled to the opposite end of the size spectrum and miniaturized his personal poster-sized intaglio etchings of abstract heart images.  The final group is a whimsical playing cards with Kings and Queens of Hearts, from Nefertiti to King Tut, which are in the Card of Hearts ^[8] collection.

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“February is the perfect month and Valentine’s Day is the perfect holiday for me to be working on The Luxe Project. The heart shape is a global symbol of love, peace and happiness, and I think the theme of love on the back of a business card is very cool and can be used year round. Joey’s Corner is named after my deceased son Joseph Osborne, whose birthday is February 13^th, making my given design theme of Valentine’s Day and love that much more special to me,” said Osborne.

Read more about the Luxe business card collection by Michael Osborne on Felt & Wire ^[10].

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About Michael Osborne
Michael Osborne is President and Creative Director of the San Francisco firm, Michael Osborne Design. Established in 1981, the firm’s work in brand identity and package design has garnered awards from all major competitions, and has been recognized by many industry publications including a feature article in Communication Arts, 2011. Michael’s work is included in the permanent collections of the San Francisco MOMA, the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, and the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C. Michael designed the 2002 and 2004 Love stamps, the 2006 Wedding stamp set, the 2006 Madonna & Child stamp, and the 2007 Patriotic Banner stamp for the USPS. He has been a featured speaker at numerous conferences and design schools. Michael received his undergraduate degree at Art Center College of Design, and his MFA at the Academy of Art University, where he has taught Package Design since 1991. In the summer of 2006 Michael was the recipient of the prestigious AIGA Fellow Award.