At PrintingCenterUSA, we love seeing organizations use print to celebrate the people behind the work. For the American Geosciences Institute (AGI), their annual desk calendar does exactly that transforming employee creativity into a meaningful print piece that brings connection and pride to desks all year long.

Designed by Andrea Robinson, Human Resources Lead at AGI, the calendar showcases winning entries from the organization’s annual employee photo contest. What begins as a creative internal initiative becomes a polished, professional calendar that staff and board members look forward to receiving year after year.

About the American Geosciences Institute

The American Geosciences Institute is dedicated to advancing the geosciences and supporting the professionals who work within the field. Beyond their scientific mission, AGI values creativity, collaboration, and community among its staff.

Each year, AGI hosts an employee photo contest where staff members submit images and vote on an overall winner. A curated selection of those photos is then used to design the following year’s desk calendar turning shared creativity into something tangible and lasting.

“We love providing the desk calendar to our staff and board members; it’s the perfect size so as not to clutter anyone’s desk, but still allows us to enjoy each other’s beautiful photos,” Andrea shares.

The Inspiration

The inspiration behind the American Geosciences Institute’s desk calendar began with a desire to celebrate the creativity and talent within their organization. Each year’s employee photo contest represents moments of exploration, perspective, and personal expression, and the team wanted a way to honor those contributions in a lasting, tangible format.

Rather than treating the calendar as a simple office tool, AGI envisioned it as a shared keepsake—one that showcased the unique viewpoints of its staff while fostering connection throughout the year. By thoughtfully curating employee-submitted photos and pairing them with a clean, intentional design, the calendar became a way to tell a collective story month by month.

With this vision in mind, AGI set out to create a desk calendar that felt meaningful, functional, and reflective of the people behind the work—transforming everyday desks into spaces of inspiration and community.

The Challenge

AGI wanted a calendar that felt intentional and high quality while remaining practical for everyday use. The calendar needed to be compact enough for desks, visually engaging enough to showcase photography, and professional enough to represent the organization.

Because the calendar is shared internally and often requested in extra copies, consistency, ease of reordering, and print quality were essential. The images needed to look crisp and vibrant, honoring the creativity of AGI’s staff photographers.

The Printing Solution

Andrea partnered with PrintingCenterUSA to produce a desk calendar that balances function, aesthetics, and quality. From initial orders to reprints, our team helped ensure a smooth process every step of the way.

“PrintingCenterUSA does an excellent job helping me place my order and the subsequent re-orders when folks ask for extras!”

Calendar Print Specs

Specs:
Quantity 75
Size 8.5 x 5.5 (8.5 x 5.5 Inch)
Calendar Type Desk Calendar
Binding Wire-O
Pages 14
Ink Color (4/4) Full Color Both Sides
Paper Stock 100# Cardstock Gloss (9 pt.)
Cover Finish (UV) High Gloss

These choices allow the calendar to feel polished without overwhelming the workspace. The result is a calendar that’s easy to display, enjoyable to look at, and durable enough to last the entire year.

The Impact

AGI’s desk calendar does more than track dates it builds connection. Each page highlights a different employee’s creative perspective, reinforcing a sense of community and shared pride within the organization.

By turning an internal photo contest into a printed calendar, AGI created a keepsake that celebrates creativity, strengthens culture, and brings people together through print.

Thinking About Creating a Calendar for Your Organization?

Whether you’re showcasing photography, artwork, or team achievements, a custom calendar is a powerful way to share stories all year long.

Why Calendars Work So Well

• They keep your message visible every day of the year
• They turn creativity into a functional, lasting product
• Each month offers a new story or perspective
• Calendars make meaningful gifts and internal keepsakes
• Print creates a deeper connection than digital content alone
• Calendars are affordable, professional, and easy to distribute

With flexible formats, premium paper options, and our free Online Design Tool and Adobe templates, creating a custom calendar has never been easier.

How to Create a Desk Calendar That Celebrates Your Community

Creating a desk calendar is about more than choosing great photos—it’s about designing a piece people will enjoy using every day. Whether you’re highlighting employee creativity, artwork, or photography, a thoughtful approach will help your calendar feel intentional and professional.

Start with a clear purpose
Decide what you want your calendar to represent. For AGI, the goal was to celebrate employee creativity and foster connection. Knowing your purpose helps guide image selection, layout, and format.

Curate images with intention
Choose photos that tell a cohesive story. A mix of styles, subjects, or moods keeps each month visually engaging while still feeling unified.

Design for everyday use
Desk calendars should enhance a workspace, not overwhelm it. Keep layouts clean, dates easy to read, and images balanced with white space so the calendar feels calm and functional.

Select paper that enhances your visuals
High-quality paper makes a noticeable difference, especially for photography. Premium stock helps colors stay vibrant and images look crisp throughout the year.

Choose a format that fits your audience
Compact desk calendars are ideal for offices and shared spaces, while still offering enough room to showcase imagery beautifully.

Plan for reorders
Calendars are often requested again once people see them. Printing in bulk or working with a printer that makes reordering easy ensures you’re prepared for extra demand.

Use free design tools to simplify the process
Our free Online Design Tool and Adobe Templates make it easy to create a polished calendar—even without professional design experience.

Pro Tip: Consider including a brief caption or credit for each image. This adds a personal touch and helps celebrate the creators behind the work.

Looking Ahead

AGI continues to celebrate creativity within its organization, using print as a way to connect people and honor shared experiences. Their annual desk calendar stands as a reminder that meaningful print doesn’t have to be complicated it just has to be thoughtful.

At PrintingCenterUSA, we’re proud to help organizations turn their ideas into print products that connect, inspire, and last all year long.

Ready to start your own calendar project? Bring your story to life with PrintingCenterUSA.

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