# Mailbox-Shaped Scanner Printers Dohui Kim Designs the Nostalgic tou Device Concept By Amy Duong | Published 2025-03-11 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tou References: [behance.net](https://www.behance.net/kimdohui)  Dohui Kim designs the tou, which is a unique device with scanning and printing capabilities shaped like an [old mailbox](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pippo). This is a concept that nods to days past where handwritten letters were the main form of communicating with distance between. There is an intimacy of the physical act of writing a note by hand that cannot be replicated by the convenience of digital communication. The tou is a device concept that bridges the digital components and analog intimacy. The tou allows people to exchange their [handwritten notes and scan them](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/textor) to be delivered across any distance. This maintains a personal element as it is handwritten and breaches the borders of convenience with the immediate sending. Image Credit: Dohui Kim ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.1/10 - Popularity: 9% | Activity: 16% | Freshness: 37% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Retro-modern Tech Blends:** The fusion of nostalgic design with modern technology, such as the mailbox-shaped scanner printer, offers a fresh take on traditional devices by integrating digital functionality with familiar aesthetics. - **Analog-digital Hybrid Devices:** Devices that merge analog charm with digital convenience, like the tou concept, allow users to digitally share handwritten notes, combining tactile interaction with swift communication. - **Personalized Communication Tech:** Technology that emphasizes personalization, exemplified by devices enabling the exchange of handwritten messages, appeals to consumers seeking alternatives to impersonal digital communication. ### Where This Applies - **Consumer Electronics:** Innovations like the mailbox-shaped scanner printer inject novelty and nostalgia into consumer electronics, inviting a new market focus on blending form with function. - **Stationery and Office Supplies:** The incorporation of digital capabilities into traditional stationery shapes creates opportunities for this industry to create products catering to niche preferences for personalized communication. - **Home Office Innovations:** Devices melding nostalgic elements with modern uses can transform home office spaces by offering unique tools that resonate on emotional and functional levels. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Freestyle Desktop Printers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dual-printer-device.md) - [Subtle Smartphone-Friendly Printers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/samsung-image-box.md) - [Dynamic Portable Scanners](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/iochowx1.md) - [Digitized Sticky Note Projectors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/memojector.md) - [Sculptural Scrolling Photo Frames](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flash-back-device-concept.md) - [Industrial Handheld Printer Units](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scribe-handheld-printer.md) - [Ultra-Compact Keyboard-Like Typewriters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/typewriter-concept.md) - [Playful Thermal Printer Cameras](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/childrens-print-camera.md) - [Color-In Photo Cameras](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/toy-camera-concept.md)