National Grid Covid-19 NHS Cards
National Grid | Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital
Overview
During the COVID-19 pandemic, National Grid funded a project to support and uplift NHS staff at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital. I was commissioned to design a collection of 650 appreciation cards that would be distributed to frontline workers as heartfelt tokens of gratitude and encouragement.
Each design aimed to spread positivity and hope during a time of immense pressure, celebrating the compassion and resilience of NHS staff who continued to care for others in the face of uncertainty.
The Challenge
The brief required designs that could express warmth and gratitude without feeling overly corporate or sentimental. The cards needed to be uplifting, genuine, and emotionally resonant while maintaining a sense of professionalism appropriate for a hospital environment.
The challenge was to create something that would instantly brighten a staff member’s day and remind them how valued they were, even in the toughest moments of the pandemic.
The new designs needed to:
Express heartfelt appreciation to NHS frontline workers
Balance professionalism with warmth and creativity
Deliver a visual message of hope, unity, and community support
Create designs that were simple, memorable, and uplifting
Reinforce the partnership between National Grid and the hospital charity in a positive, human way
Strategy and Creative Direction
I designed three unique card concepts, each capturing a different aspect of hope and appreciation:
Jar of Hearts: a mason jar filled with red hearts, symbolising collective love and support, with the central message “Sending You Love.”
Rainbow Card: a bright, cheerful rainbow accompanied by “You Are Never Alone” — a powerful reminder of unity and solidarity during isolation.
You Are Amazing: a bold, wavy design featuring the affirmation “You Are Amazing!” to energise and uplift every recipient.
Each design used vibrant colour palettes, playful illustration, and clear typography to feel approachable and heartfelt. The cards were printed on high-quality stock to give them a sense of care and permanence.
