Calendars continue to thrive in the digital age, with organisations valuing them as expressions of individuality, mindfulness aids, and storytelling platforms. Whether physical, digital, or hybrid, calendars remain essential to how we experience time.
This article showcases three industry examples where design, innovation, and aesthetic appeal keep traditional physical calendars alive and relevant.
Hazen Paper Company kicks off its second century with the launch of the Hazen 2025 Holographic Calendar. Titled the ‘Time-Traveler’, this calendar represents a technological milestone, blending polymer science, optical physics, transfer metallisation, and source reduction into a single, eco- friendly design.
Created in-house at Hazen’s Holyoke Campus, the calendar includes Hazen’s proprietary Envirofoil® technology. This technology lies at the heart of this innovation, delivering a large-format hologram laminated onto paper cover stock. This process ensures that the calendar remains as recyclable as standard paper while featuring a holographic layer just 1 micron thick—far thinner than a human hair (which averages over 50 microns).
Printed using advanced UV litho or digital methods, the ‘Time-Traveler’ sets new standards in sustainability and artistry, says Hazen. Its in-house capabilities include originating and embossing holographic media, film coating, and metallising - making it the only company in North America with such comprehensive, integrated processes under one roof.
Hazen is known for its ongoing range of award-winning calendars highlighting its latest technology.
Recently, it won a gold award for best use of foil/embossing for its 2024 Lion Heart Calendar.
For its 2025 wall calendar, Kurz drew inspiration from Brazil’s vibrant culture and diverse nature. Iconic motifs like the jaguar, rainforest, and Sugar Loaf Mountain, as well as architectural landmarks like São Paulo’s Edifício Altino Arantes, adorn the pages, showcasing Brazil’s splendour.
The calendar includes features including LIGHT LINE® Laser was applied with inline 4-colour offset. Parrots, toucans, and a jaguar were embossed using LUMAFIN® finishes and 2-in-1 hot and blind embossing. Leaves and foliage were highlighted with LUMAFIN® Green and LUXOR® My Green. Giving final touches, the year and KURZ logo were sculpturally embossed with LUXOR® Gold, featuring a unique brass stamp for 3D enhancement.
In 2024, the Kurz calendar drew inspiration from Vietnam’s unique nature and vibrant culture. The lotus flower, often called the ‘Flower of Life,’ was central to its design, symbolising the essence of Vietnamese heritage.
Its 2023 calendar celebrated the architectural beauty of Budapest, with the iconic Széchenyi Chain Bridge as its main motif, showcasing a timeless symbol of connection and unity elegance.
In line with UFlex’s strategy to diversify, the holography division has identified a promising new segment in decorative products for a unique holographic calendar application. This calendar features holographic foils or designs, creating a multidimensional, colourful, and reflective effect. Because of their eye-catching aesthetics, UFlex targets these calendars during festivals like Diwali (the Festival of Light) and New Year in India.
