Digital Times | Card Companies Turn to Playful Card Designs to Win Customers
Digital Times reported that Shinhan Card teamed up with NBC Universal to unveil Minions character cards, and reported that Woori Card is likewise stirring consumers' desire to collect with its 'Card-ui-Jeongseok' series and 'WOWRI' product, which borrow the work of Korean painter Kim Hyun Jung.
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Shinhan Card partners with NBC Universal to unveil products featuring 'Minions'
Seen as a strategy of focusing on design to stir the desire to collect
Card companies are turning to playful card designs to win over customers. As financial authorities are expected to tighten standards to prevent excessive add-on services on new products going forward, the move is interpreted as a strategy to focus on card design to stir consumers' desire to collect.
According to the card industry on the 30th, Shinhan Card recently partnered with global media and entertainment company NBC Universal to unveil products featuring the Minions characters.
These are the check card 'Deep Dream Check' and the credit cards 'Shinhan Card YOLO' and 'Shinhan Card YOLO Tasty,' launched in early April. The card plate designs of these cards feature the Minions characters. The Minions, characters that first appeared in the 2010 film 'Despicable Me,' are known for their distinctive round eyes and yellow skin. Speaking an unidentifiable alien language and displaying comical behavior, the Minions became so popular that they were even given their own standalone film.
A Shinhan Card official said, "As of the 29th, about 66,000 Minions check cards have been issued. Initial response has been quite good," adding, "We understand that inquiries about issuing this card continue, particularly among enthusiast fans."
Woori Card released its 'WOWRI' product to celebrate its flagship product, the 'Card-ui-Jeongseok' series, surpassing 3 million cards issued. The Card-ui-Jeongseok series has captured consumers' attention with its stylish design embroidered with 'Korean beauty,' borrowing the work of Korean painter Kim Hyun Jung. The recently released 'WOWRI' also uses basic geometric elements based on Kim's design, layered with the varied hues of the five traditional Korean colors (obangsaek).
Hyundai Card became the first in Korea to apply a vertical, rather than horizontal, design across its entire product lineup. Not only its flagship Zero, M, and X series, but also the recently launched Costco-exclusive card 'Costco Reward Hyundai Card,' were made with a vertical design. It also achieved visual impact by using Costco's signature red, blue, and white colors.
A card industry official said, "While some people do choose cards based on their benefits, since the benefits are generally similar anyway, there is a younger demographic that focuses on design, which is why the trend of prioritizing design is spreading across the industry recently."
Reporter Yoon Sun-young sunnyday72@dt.co.kr