10 unique graduation announcement
ideas & trends

For the class of 2021, this is a graduation year unlike any other. High school and college students all over the country have overcome unprecedented challenges head-on to reach this special milestone in their educational journey. Start planning ways you can celebrate your graduate by reviewing our trendsetting assortment of cards and unique graduation announcement ideas for 2021. We have hundreds of designs geared to commemorate graduations of all kinds this spring and summer.

Minted’s community of artists across the globe have submitted some truly unique designs in 2021, and we guarantee you will find a design that speaks to you. We offer both graduation party invitations as well as announcements and have curated ten of our favorite design trends from our brand new collection. From classic and formal designs to bold and modern announcements, every graduate will be able to find an announcement or party invitation at Minted that suits their unique personality. Graduates and their loved ones will cherish these printed announcements as keepsakes for years to come.

MINTED’S TOP 2021 DESIGN TRENDS FOR GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS

Their senior year was full of challenges – from hours spent on screen and away from friends doing virtual, distanced learning, to cancelled homecomings, proms, and sporting events. After a year like this, one thing is for certain, the class of 2021 is looking forward to what’s next. The future is bright for this resilient class, so honor that with a graduation announcement that focuses on the positive things to come. Some of our favorite optimistic and forward-looking designs include Layered by JoAnn Jinks, Onward & Upward by Anna Elder and Brightest by Erin L. Wilson.

It is important to recognize just how strong our class of 2021 seniors are for making it through this difficult year. While many students were not physically together this year, there is a sense of camaraderie having shared this tough experience. We offer an assortment of graduation announcements that speak to their resilience and fortitude. Some of our favorites include Twenty One Strong by Erin Deegan, It Takes Grit by Lisa McLean and Ember by Olivia Raufman.

SHOP GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS

The greater the storm, the brighter the rainbow. A beautiful and timely design trend in our 2021 graduation announcement assortment are rainbows and arches. We have seen arches universally be a popular theme across holiday cards and save the dates this year. Some designs feature a rainbow colored overlay atop a photo, while others trim the photo shape into a tall arch. Some, like Ombre Arch by Baumbirdy (featured to the right) include both! For the colorful and optimistic graduate, choose a rainbow and/or arch announcement. Some beautiful examples include Ombre Overlay by Stacey Day and Glimmering Doorway by Creo Study. There’s nothing but gold at the end of their journey.

A lot went into the past four years, and many graduates have a lot to reflect upon and say! Minted offers an array of designs that allow grads to add custom notes or insert cards to mailers. This creative graduation announcement idea allows students to add a letter of thanks to friends, family, and mentors that helped them on their journey. Our beautiful vellum overlay graduation announcements allow you to pair a heartfelt note with a keepsake photo. Searching for the right words? Minted has you covered. Here’s a starting point for what to say in your noteworthy graduation announcement:

“As I begin this new chapter of life, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on these past years and thank you for being part of my journey. They say “it takes a village” and I am so grateful to have you in mine. Your friendship, mentorship, encouragement, and guidance helped get me to this moment and become who I am today. While I am excited about this next adventure, I will always look back fondly on all that I have learned and experienced over these past four years. To my friends, family, teachers, coaches and anyone who has helped me grow – thanks to your support, I am now a graduate!”

If you would like to speak to the unique experience you’ve had graduating in 2021, a year with unprecedented challenges for graduates, Minted has a couple designs that can hopefully help communicate how you are feeling in your graduation announcement. Try Class of 2021 Statement for an optimistic reflection or Virtual Support for a little playful humor.

Make a statement with a graduation announcement featuring bold typography. With news this exciting, why not make your graduation announcement shout it from the rooftops? We offer an assortment of designs with body copy like “graduate” and “class of 2021.” We also have a collection of designs that let you highlight the graduates name using bold fully customizable fonts. For a really memorable announcement, add custom foil to your graduate’s name making it pop with real foil.

SHOP GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS

Now is the time for the class of 2021 to shine. What better way to make them feel special than with a foil-pressed graduation announcement or party invitation? Minted offers the largest assortment of foil colors to choose from. Options include gold, silver, rose gold, glittery gold, glittery silver, bronze, black, ice blue, red, and green. We also now offer mix-and-match foil, which allows graduates to pair any of these gorgeous foils with a custom card background color. For example, pair a forest green card with gold foil to highlight your school’s colors in an elegant and personal way. Make your announcement even more special by adding these foil colors to any customizable text like the grad’s name, school year, or area of study.

And what a hassle it was this year! The tassel is a special icon when it comes to graduation. Worn on top of the cap (or “mortar board”), the graduate repositions the tassel from the right side to the left to signify the transition from one chapter to the next. Include this important icon in your graduation announcement and choose a foil color that ties to your school colors. Some of our favorite designs featuring tassels include Fringe by Lauren Chism (also available as a vellum overlay!), So Extra by Hooray Creative and Graduation Gown by Pati Cascino.

Show off your sense of humor with a Minted design featuring funny sentiments. Some of our favorites include:

• “All the pomp despite the circumstance”
• “Got myself a fancy piece of paper”
• “Cap. Gown. It’s going down.”
• “Have diploma, will travel”
• “Peace Out”

Most class of 2021 grads have done the majority of their studies virtually. Help lighten the mood around this unprecedented commencement year with designs recognizing the weird times we are in like “ virtually the best class ever” by Lea Delaveris.

If you are earning a special certification or higher education degree, Minted has graduation announcements with clever copy uniquely suited for these special achievements too:

• Earning a degree in nursing? ”SHE EARNED IT” lets you put the focus on your hard work and your new title as a registered nurse (RN) in a witty way. Or highlight that you are soon to be ”officially an essential worker.”
• How about a master’s degree? “Mastered It” is a playful way to announce this achievement.

Capture the memories from the 2020-21 school year with a design featuring multiple photos. Show off photos with friends or an assortment of gorgeous shots from your graduate’s photo session. We have an array of design options inspired by classic polaroid snapshots to give your graduation announcement a retro but timeless feel. Some of our favorites include Snapshot Collage by Ekko Studio and Personal Invite by Stacey Meacham.

SHOP GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS

A graduate’s pride is not limited exclusively to fulfilling their scholastic requirements. Many have a strong pride in the school and town they are graduating from. Show off that school pride with a card customized in your school colors. If you do not see your desired colors available, fear not! You can always make a special design request when personalizing your card and our team of design associates will customize your card uniquely for you. Some other special ways to highlight your school colors are through the use of our many foil colors (including our brand new red, green and black foils) or by packaging your graduation communication in colored envelopes. The colors we have available are silver, black, kraft, navy, spruce, charcoal, antique rose, cloud blue, aubergine, ruby and emerald. We offer white ink printing on our dark envelope colors.

WHERE TO GET STARTED

Looking for even more unique graduation invitation ideas or graduation announcement ideas? Minted’s founder and CEO, Mariam Naficy, has hand-selected a small curated assortment of her favorites. Mariam’s skilled eye for design has helped shape Minted as a destination for design innovation. Her Founder’s Picks collection features bold type, fun copy and sayings, unique photo treatments, and striking foil-pressed design elements.

Already have the perfect photo in mind for your graduation correspondence but unsure what Minted design will best complement your photo? Give Minted’s easy photo-styling service called “ Text Us Your Photo” a try. Simply text your photo to 22737, complete our brief style survey, and our team of Minted design stylists will text you back 5 graduation announcement designs selected and styled with your photo for free! The best part is that all 5 design options will automatically be uploaded to your account customized with your photo and specified text. All you need to do is pick your favorite and check out.

For a faster, more DIY approach, try our Find It Fast™ filter. While browsing through our assortment of designs, click “Use My Photo” in the upper left corner. There you can upload your photo and Minted will automatically mockup what each design looks like with your photo in it. This allows you to determine which designs best make your graduation photo shine at a quick glance.

TIPS & TRENDS ON WHAT TO WEAR

Maybe you haven’t snapped the perfect graduation photo just yet. Minted has some great tips for capturing photos on your cell phone that you’ll be excited to share with friends and family. Looking for ideas on what to wear? There are many choices to make sure your photos feel uniquely you. And remember, you can always plan for numerous outfit changes!

• Classic cap and gown - Seasons come and go, but the pomp and circumstance stands the test of time. A few shots in the classic commencement garment is always a family favorite.
• Go casual - Have your favorite school sweater or jacket on hand to capture the everyday nostalgic strolls across campus. Wearing clothes you are most comfortable in will help your photos feel natural.

• School colors - Get creative with this one! Find a creative and stylish outfit to sport the official colors of your high school or university while also conveying your unique fashion sense. Pair the colors and style with the design of your announcement or invitation for a cohesive touch.
• Dress up - Many graduates are heading into the professional world after graduation. Why not look the part in your best suit or business attire? You’ll exude confidence in your photos and show that you are ready to take on life’s new challenges.
• Incorporate props - Your high school or college experience will be defined by your area of study and the extracurricular activities that you dedicated your time to. Show off what made your educational journey uniquely yours by including your musical instrument, sports equipment, or theater costume in the shot.

PHOTO LOCATIONS & GRADUATION POSES

After finalizing your wardrobe, you next have to consider a creative location that follows social distancing guidelines and a pose to capture the moment. Here are some of our top location suggestions:

• At Home - It is a difficult time to get outside and snap photos. Take this as an opportunity to give your graduation photos an intimate and personable feel with an in-home photoshoot. Capture shots in your favorite cozy nook of your home, on the steps of your front porch, or next to a tree you love to study under in the backyard.
• In Nature - Is there a park or field near your home that your grad frequents on morning runs or evening walks? Capture a beautiful photo in the fresh air during golden hour (just before sunset or sunrise).

• At School - It may be challenging to get onto campus at this time, but a shot under your school’s entrance or near a popular statue in the quad could be a good option. Maintain social distance and hold onto the memories of campus through your graduation card.

Here are some fun poses to incorporate into your photoshoot:

• Throwing the Cap - This is a classic graduation tradition! Toss your cap in the air to celebrate accomplishing your academic goals. Have a sibling or family member snap an image as you look up in the air at your cap.
• Jumping for joy - No cap? No problem! Throw yourself up into the air and have your photographer capture you mid-jump!
• With Friends - If you are able to get together with friends, group shots make for the best keepsakes. Maybe you have some past photos of you and your fellow graduates together that you could incorporate into your graduation announcement. If you plan to throw a joint graduation party, group shots are perfect to put onto your party invitation.

WHAT TO PUT ON YOUR GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENT

For a comprehensive breakdown of what to put on your graduation announcement, see our graduation announcement etiquette and wording article. This breaks down the anatomy of a graduation announcement in detail. For a quick overview, your graduation announcement should include the following:

• Your full name
• A declaration that you are graduating. This can include copy like “class of 2021,” “announcing the graduate,” etc.
• The school you are graduating from
• A photo of you

If you are graduating from college or a specialty school, you can also include your area of study or the degree you are receiving. Another great thing to share is what your upcoming plans are after graduation. Are you volunteering? Maybe headed to college? Friends and family will love to hear what’s next for their favorite graduate.