“Nine
out of 10 people say they love receiving handwritten letters in the post.”
The idea of putting pen to paper to write a letter
has come to be seen as an antiquated concept, ridiculously slow and old
fashioned. Writing anything more than a birthday message in a card can be
difficult enough.
Communication of social networking through phones
and social networking apps means communicating has never been easier. Statistics show that it is mainly adults aged
18 – 29 that use social networking sites. With digital communication being so prevalent in our
daily lives, the art of handwritten letters and sending pieces of mail seems to
have been forgotten about. There is something more personal about receiving a
handwritten letter, something an electronic message cannot compete with. Sending a letter used to be seen as nothing else
than uncommon, now its seen as sending a signal to someone that you want to go
that extra mile for.
The simple thing is… nobody gets mail anymore,
because nobody sends mail anymore.
Positive
and negative reactions to handwritten letters:
Positive
·
Do not need a computer or access to the
Internet (which costs)
·
It is different, special and more
personal.
·
Retain Royal Mail Jobs
·
Valuable
·
Something to have and keep forever
·
Much more emotion can be seen through
the handwriting
Negative
·
Slower and less convenient (2-5 days) it is not as instant
·
Might not receive the mail –
(Trustworthy of Royal Mails service)
·
Costs of postage stamps
·
Inconvenient
·
Junk mail is too prominent. It goes
against the point of receiving a letter now
·
Using paper, not environmentally
friendly
·
Costs to send
I sent out a number of letters to people I knew,
asking them their thoughts on handwritten letters, and here are a few people’s responses:
“A
handwritten letter is something you can keep, and has sentimental value.”
Female Age 20
“It is more special, they have taken the time to sit
down and write it.” Male Age 18
“There is so much more effort put into a handwritten
letter.”
“When I received this letter, I was intrigued to
open it.”
It seems people know receiving a letter has
sentimental value and putting pen to paper makes something that extra bit
special, yet this is something that is almost forgotten about because of the barrier
between this and the convenience of sending an email, social networking sites,
and other ways of easily communicating with one another nowadays.
People need a specific reason to write to someone,
whether this is what to write, or why to write. The piece of mail has to be
well thought, personal and unique to their chosen receiver.
My aim is to remind others about the power of the
written word, remind those how great it is to receive a letter again…, make
this more convenient and easier, and give people many reasons to write. To do
this I have come up with three design solutions.
Concept
1 - Mail
Recipes
Mail recipes’ is full of a range of different ways to write to people, and how to personalise your own cards in any unique style using mixed media’s, from old magazine cuttings, materials to printing blocks. The book is full of design tips on how to make their mail more personal and that extra bit special. My target audience for this is females aged 12 – 65.
Mail recipes’ is full of a range of different ways to write to people, and how to personalise your own cards in any unique style using mixed media’s, from old magazine cuttings, materials to printing blocks. The book is full of design tips on how to make their mail more personal and that extra bit special. My target audience for this is females aged 12 – 65.
Concept
Two – Catharsis
Catharsis Mail is an emotional release through the
power of the written word. The writer is in control with what they write, and
who they write to that they feel is responsible for their inner negative
feelings. The writer can choose to deliver this, or keep, tear or burn. They
are in complete control of their mail. My target audience will be anyone who wants to
emotionally release their thoughts onto paper, has opposed to using expensive therapy.
“During the reconditioning process, I found healing
of the inner child by writing a letter to my parents about all my childhood
disappointments and feelings. It was a writing exercise given me by
my then psychiatrist - "write a letter to your parents" he
said. It did not matter if I sent it or not. So, I wrote the
letter to air my pent up feelings of long ago - growing up in a dysfunctional
home. Writing the letter was very cathartic and did clean out some of the
emotional cobwebs that held me captive.
I never did mail the
letter, but that did not matter! It worked to free the anger, hate,
disappointment and the child who once had no voice.”
Concept
3- Yours
& Mine Cards
Yours and Mine cards are a set of cards that come
together as a pair, so that the cards the cards can be shared between two
people. The cards will be bought by one, and given to their chosen recipient to
use and keep.
Research has shown that often people do not reply to
letters because they do not have nice enough stationery, this eliminates this
problem and makes sending letters easier and convenient. My target audience for
this will be young couples, close friends, or other family members between the
ages of 14-25. These ideally can be used for communicating with distant
friends, family or lovers, and a great way to stay in touch whilst apart during
term times at separate universities, colleges or schools.
I have decided to go forward with my final concept,
and develop this further with a few new ideas I mind. I will keep you posted.