The short answer?...NO! NEVER!
Even in the age of AI taking over EVERYTHING you ask?
ESPECIALLY in the age of AI taking over everything I respond!!!
People need and crave human connection now more than ever and greeting cards are THE perfect vehicle for this core need we all have. We now know from all the research being done that human connection and relationships are at the center of our physical health and have a greater effect on our wellbeing than SMOKING even!!! That’s actually crazy right??
But I think at our core, we all KIND of know this! Think about how even the smallest positive interaction can lift your mood instantly and sometimes even alter your entire day. You’re walking into the grocery store and someone is walking out directly at you and you each step to the side to get out of the way but you both go the same way… so then you try to adjust and quickly step the other way, just as they do the same. Next thing you know you each laugh and the other person jokes “thanks for the dance!” and you each go your separate ways, but with a little smile on your face. Or the friendly barista that notices your new sweater and you’re so pumped because you got a sick deal on it and want to share…and it turns out they love that website you bought it from too. Such small moments… but the joy of the interaction is real. We need this! AI is a valuable tool that is going to be a part of our lives now, but our basic needs as humans will not change and are in fact becoming amplified because of it.
Dr. Robert Waldinger is the leader of the Harvard Study of Adult Development and writes and talks extensively about how much human connection has proven to be key to our health and wellbeing. He says, “It turns out that people who are more socially connected to family, to friends, to community are happier, they’re physically healthier and they live longer than people who are less well connected.” We as artists now have the privilege of feeding that need for connection with…you guessed it…greeting cards! Ya see back in the day, it was standard practice, and even somewhat expected to send a card in the mail and to receive cards. But in an era where quick, easy digital communication has become the norm, the perceived value of the act of sending or receiving a card has been completely amplified!
©Michele Frusciano Art, LLC.
When you give a card, you are sharing joy, encouragement, empathy, gratitude, love and so much more! We use cards to celebrate moments big and small and the giving of a card in and of itself has become this true act of showing we care, again, now more than ever. When it’s so quick and easy to send a text or digital acknowledgement of a birthday or other achievement or even a loss, taking the time to actually physically purchase a card, hand write a sentiment, and mail it or give it becomes so much more meaningful to the recipient. It’s actually pretty cool if you think about it!
©Michele Frusciano Art LLC.
Still not convinced by my little spiel here? OK! Let’s also take a look at some cold hard facts to help:
In the United States, approximately 6.5 billion greeting cards are sold annually, with annual retail sales reaching between $7 and $8 billion. The global market is estimated at approximately $15.9 billion.
So yes. People are indeed still buying cards, which means the greeting card manufacturers of the world NEED YOUR ART! If you’re still not sure why you’d want to create art for greeting cards, be sure to see my last post oozing my love of card design nerd-li-ness everywhere. So what are you waiting for? Go and make some art!
Are you a greeting card artist? If so, drop me a comment to let me know what you love about it! Have questions on becoming a greeting card artist? Drop them below or shoot me a message at michele@michelefruscianoart.com. Check out my website for some great free greeting card design resources as well!
Now go and MAKE. THE. ART. You can have alllll the tricks in the book, but nothing will work until you do! I believe in you!
XO,
Michele, The Greeting Card Girl