PREMISE

The premise for this project was two fold. Firstly, I wanted to write a thank you note to a friend but didn’t have his address. Emails are cold and unpersonalized and I wanted to provide an experience beyond an inbox ping. I asked:

Can one bridge the gap between analog and digital?

Can emails feel as thoughtful and meaningful as a handwritten note?

Secondly, I wanted to challenge the question:

Is letter writing a dead art form? Is there a way to revive it.

Emails and text messages will always be a superior form of communication, so how can we work with that and create delightful and special messages?

What makes receiving a letter so special?

Interviews were conducted with people who were non letter writers to frequent letter writers. I sought to find out what made letters special.

What does letter writing mean to you?
What makes receiving mail so special?
What are some emotions associated with email?

“I don’t write because it’s a long process in my already busy day. I would have to find stationary, sit down and write (my handwriting is awful), find a stamp, then make a trip out to the post office. No thanks” - Emails only please

“I love receiving mail. It’s always a highlight….what makes it special is knowing someone thought about me and put in the effort. The doodles, stickers, handwriting, stationary really shows another facet of that person which i would never experience through social media.” - Letter Writers

“I’ve written a couple thank you notes through email. But I assume they end up archived or trashed. Email feels like work and its a constant chore to keep the inbox under control. I don’t blame people if my note gets trashed. I'd probably do the same.” - Wishing there was a better way