A Phoenix Rises for the Holidays
📌 Nickel Etched Ornament Design for Novelis, Inc
✏️ From AI Concepts to Hand-Drawn Design
For the past 6–7 years, through my positions at Keystone Specialties, Inc., I’ve had the privilege of designing Novelis, Inc.’s annual holiday ornament—a tradition that combines creativity with their identity as a global aluminum manufacturer. Each year, the ornament is crafted from etched nickel to reflect the metallic aesthetic they’re known for, and it’s gifted to employees and partners as a seasonal keepsake.
This year, things took an exciting turn: instead of sending a rough pencil sketch (as they’ve done in the past), Novelis experimented with AI-generated art! They shared three phoenix-themed images, each with elements they loved, and asked me to merge the best parts into a single design, adding snowflakes for a festive touch.
Their theme was deeply meaningful:
“Our theme this year is a phoenix rising from the ashes, due to a pretty bad fire we had in one of the manufacturing units.”
They wanted the bird from image #1, the Christmas lights from image #3, and the “Phoenix Rising” text from image #2—plus a Santa hat, but none of the extra holiday clutter like candy canes or ornaments. They were open to ash, snow, or other seasonal details.
🎨 Design Process & Color Options
I began by hand-drawing the final concept, then scanned and vectorized it in CorelDRAW. From there, I added a border, text, and five spot colors to bring the design to life. I created two versions for them to choose from:
~ Version 1: Blue ink included (their company color), with all “white” areas showing the silver nickel base.
~ Version 2: White ink substituted for blue, making snowflakes and Santa hat trim pop against the metal.
Last year, Novelis dropped their signature blue to allow for a better overall color balance, so I knew they’d appreciate having options.
✅ Client Feedback & Final Direction
After reviewing the first design with all requested elements, Novelis decided the string of lightbulbs made the ornament feel too busy. They also asked to remove the snowflakes entirely for a cleaner look. So, I’m creating a second version of the phoenix—same positioning, but without the lights and snowflakes.
And they’ve officially chosen Version 2: no blue ink, with white ink for the Santa hat trim and other details.
This project was a perfect blend of tradition and innovation—honoring their annual ornament ritual while embracing new creative tools. I can’t wait to see these etched nickel phoenix ornaments shining on trees this holiday season!
🔔 Final Update: The Phoenix Ornament Gets Its Finishing Touch
Novelis has made their final decision—and it’s a great one! After reviewing the latest revision without lightbulbs and snowflakes, they decided the design felt a little too plain. So, they asked to add the snowflakes back in for that perfect festive touch.
I’m thrilled to see this version head into production—it’s going to look stunning on Christmas trees everywhere!
📷 Stay tuned—I’ll share photos of the finished ornament soon!
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