Passion Project via Overice Studio
Year: 2022 - Present
Art Direction & Design: Meijun Li (Overice)
Greeting Cards by Overice is an ongoing collection of Lunar New Year greeting cards that reimagines traditional Chinese symbols, auspicious expressions, and cultural celebrations through modern, playful illustrations.
After moving to the United States in 2013, I felt a lack of representation of Chinese culture, particularly in the decorations and greeting card market. During Lunar New Year, the decorations and cards I found were often either heavily traditional, with elaborate, ornate designs, or overly cartoonish, with illustrations that didn't capture the beauty and richness of Chinese culture.
In 2022, I started Greeting Cards by Overice as a personal passion project to reimagine Lunar New Year greeting cards through a modern, playful, and thoughtful approach. Drawing inspiration from traditional Chinese symbols, auspicious expressions, and childhood memories, I wanted to create something that felt contemporary while staying connected to its cultural roots.
For the first year, I collaborated with two good friends, Angel Ho and Jessica Chen, to bring the idea to life. We brought our cards to local markets, where we had the opportunity to meet people, share stories, and spark conversations about Chinese traditions. It was especially rewarding to see how something as simple as a greeting card could connect people, whether they grew up celebrating Lunar New Year or were discovering it for the first time. The collection received a warm response, and our cards eventually made their way into five retail stores in New York, allowing us to share the project with an even wider audience.
2022, Year of the Tiger
The following year, I continued to build on the project, taking inspiration from the feedback and conversations we had during our first year. I carried forward three of the original designs while developing new concepts to further explore Lunar New Year traditions through a contemporary lens. This was also the year I began incorporating the Chinese zodiac into the collection, creating designs inspired by each year's animal.
2023, Year of the Rabbit
For the Year of the Rabbit, I collaborated with DAWANG, a modern Chinese fashion brand, and Land to Sea, a local Asian café, to develop new concepts that brought together design, culture, and community.
In 2024, I introduced The Playful New Year Collection (歡樂年趣系列), taking a more lighthearted approach to Lunar New Year traditions. Through playful illustrations, simple forms, cheerful characters, and a touch of humor, I reimagined familiar cultural symbols in unexpected ways.
2024, Year of the Dragon
In 2025, I continued to bring back some of the most popular designs from previous years while introducing my first full collection dedicated to the Chinese zodiac.
For the Year of the Snake, I explored a more cohesive visual direction, drawing inspiration from traditional Chinese painting and storytelling.
2025, Year of the Snake
Another collaboration with Land to Sea Cafe