With the pen pal phenomenon and hand-written letter practice going extinct, the Gary Hunt 'Social Mail' stamps are a cute concept to encourage the use of snail mail.
The simple designs feature both animal and human head illustrations in candy-bright colors. The fun part comes in your own artistic ability as the 'headshot' stamps invite you to complete the rest of the body. By drawing in whatever body shape you see fit, your letter critter will complete any letter you send with the perfect personal touch. Hunt cites humor and human interaction as the main purpose of these 'social stamps,' as he encourages people to have fun in starting conversation with his product.
Hunt's idea was the winning entry in the RSA student design awards 'postage stamps' category. Photo Credits: designboom | gary-hunt
Cute Custom Completion Stamps
The Gary Hunt 'Social Mail' Concept Encourages Snail Mail Use
Trend Themes
1. Hand-written Letter Practice - The resurgence of hand-written letters presents opportunities for innovative products that enhance the personal touch of snail mail.
2. Pen Pal Phenomenon - Creating platforms and products that facilitate modern pen pal relationships can tap into the growing interest in nostalgic communication methods.
3. Customization and Personalization - The trend of customizing and personalizing everyday items, such as completion stamps, adds a unique touch and encourages creativity in interpersonal communication.
Industry Implications
1. Stationery - The stationery industry can capitalize on the resurgence of hand-written letters by offering unique and customizable products that enhance the snail mail experience.
2. Design and Illustration - Designers and illustrators can leverage the demand for customization by creating artistic templates and tools for individuals to personalize their completion stamps and other stationery items.
3. Social Networking - Social networking platforms can incorporate features that facilitate modern pen pal relationships, providing users with a digital space to connect and exchange handwritten messages.