Office birthday cards can cause a strange sense of dread. They’re for people you see every week, yet knowing what to write in a coworker's card is a tricky task. It’s one that we – self-confessed card lovers at Papier – are happy to help with. To crack the conundrum, we asked our trio of writers a few questions to get their tips, go-tos and inspiration for scribbling birthday wishes.
Nathan, Junior Copywriter
A top tip for making messages stand out.
Have a bit of pun with it! Use the theme of the card, something you know they love, even a play on their name, a joke is bound to make their day jolly.
Write a ‘Happy Birthday’ alternative.
As you open the card, you’re likely to be confronted with a sea of ‘Happy Birthdays’. Try to mix it up, even if you just alter a few words. ‘Cheers to you’ or ‘Enjoy your day of birth’ are a couple of my go-tos.
Long or short messages?
Assess the space you’ve got. If it’s almost full, keep it simple and even abbreviate if you have to e.g. ‘HB’. However, if you’re an early message you’re almost setting the benchmark. Keep it cheery with a ‘Enjoy celebrating your day’, but don’t write too much – all that space isn’t an invitation to craft an essay.
Your go-to phrases when writer’s block (or a deadline) hits?
If I’m short on time, a quick, but light-hearted, option is to write ‘what they said’ with an arrow. That could come across as a little lazy for a colleague you’re close with though, so scribbling a doodle you might associate with them (like a pet or favourite food) is another good get out of jail free card.
Gabi, Copywriter
A top tip for making messages stand out.
My advice for any writing? Put your heart into it. Sentimental messages will always stand out! It doesn’t have to be deep – go with the joy of a joke or appreciation for what you admire about them (outstanding outfits, deluxe WFH lunches, their taste in office tunes, etc.)
Write a ‘Happy Birthday’ alternative.
I love to bestow a title upon the birthday person. Nathan, king of the crossword and pioneer of the pun. Jennie, my fellow Victorian troll. Abigail – woo girl & work wife. Then you can get into birthday wishes.
Long or short messages?
I always have a lot to say. If given the opportunity, I will absolutely be writing a full-length love letter. I’ll usually try and wait until the end, so lack of space in the card forces me to be succinct. Short can be just as sweet.
Your go-to phrases when writer’s block (or a deadline) hits?
Happy birthday, hope your day is filled with [insert their favourite things]. Love, Gabi x
Fave things could be work-related or not! And if you’re super stuck, ask your colleagues for permission to pinch a line or two. All the best artists seek inspiration from each other.
Jennie, Copy Lead
A top tip for making messages stand out
Be you. This is the foundation of any good message, and it goes for birthday ones too. Use fun, uplifting words that are in your day-to-day vocab – it’ll sound more real and that’s when writing makes people feel.
Write a ‘Happy Birthday’ alternative
‘Heart director’ (or equally cute wordplay relevant to your recipient!).
Recently I’m VERY into scattering everyone’s names around one shared message. A card is a celebration, and well-designed words bring the party! We did the below for our lovely art director Chloe. I think it’s the way forward for every office.
Long or short messages?
Short. Write less and people read more. “Say it in fewer words” has been advice from all my editors, and it’s nearly always got my writing to a better place. It’s natural to go longer for best friends and family, but keep it brief for work bdays.
Your go-to phrases when writer’s block (or a deadline) hits?
It took me a long time to learn and accept that you don’t have to improve or overcomplicate language that’s stood the test of time. ‘Happy Birthday!’ is a pretty joyful, pretty perfect phrase. It’s 100% my fallback, flourished with something fun at the start and end of the message.
Kids have a beautiful way of never trying too hard with card wording, but still making it sing. As adults we feel this pressure to be clever and abandon the first thing that instinctively comes to us when picking up a pen. It honestly doesn’t have to be that way – gut ideas are the greatest.
Cards that work for colleagues
