Summer 2020 - 41

provided with insight to the standardization of
braille and the precisely arranged cells, which
are used to represent each letter in the alphabet,
and how we could scale these dimensions to
accommodate coiled paper effectively. This
helped us better understand the critical details
for someone that is experiencing the cards
through touch.
ST: What kind of tweaks occurred during
testing?
SS: We tested many samples that all had slightly
different size and spacing configurations in
order to determine which was the most effective
for our artistic interpretation of braille. We also
considered incorporating pictures along with the
braille. After sharing some cards from our existing
line during one of our Perkins meetings, (we
realized) a pictorial element had to be included
as we saw how much the artwork and designs
were enjoyed.
The quilled art, which was added to the braille,
also needed to be perfected to be sure the images
could be interpreted by touch. One memorable
addition was the antenna of the butterfly. The
quilled cards in our line often combine printed
background artwork with quilling. A sighted
person who is able to see both the printed details
and the quilling would not think twice about the
antenna of a butterfly, but a detail like that makes
all the difference when relying solely on touch.
ST: Any other obstacles as the line was
developed?
SS: There were many as the collection came
to fruition. The most difficult was being able
to accurately portray a standardized writing
that is typically done with a machine to a
handcrafted interpretation. The process of
printing a template, then having a quiller roll
a tight coil with the correct paper length and
width and perfectly placing it into the template
took a lot of trial and error.
ST: How do you recommend this range be
merchandised and promoted?
SS: We have a 16-pocket display, which
perfectly holds the entire Braille Collection
complete with a header sharing the details of
the collection. The story is really important;
the inspirational narrative stays with people.
We're working on a video to tell the story of
the Braille Collection, including testimonials,
interviews and footage of the cards being
made. Utilizing QR code technology, it will be
viewable to anyone by scanning the code with
their smartphone on the back of the card.
In the meantime, the Braille Collection still
has our general quilling video linked to the
QR code like the rest of the line, which gives
context to the quilling process. The video is
a valuable tool in promoting the collection
on social media, and for retailers to share
with customers.
ST: What kind of response has the collection
received so far?
SS: We've had an overwhelmingly positive
response. Our marketing efforts have received
attention from organizations across the
blind community as well as from numerous
publications and media outlets. We're now
listed as a resource with organizations such
as World Services for the Blind, World Blind
Union, and American Council of the Blind.
There have been several articles published in
local news outlets, including the MetroWest
Daily News, where Quilling Card was featured
as one of their recent cover stories. It has
been so wonderful being able to bring more
awareness to the braille reading and writing
system while also sharing the ancient art of
quilling with an even larger audience.
ST: What are retailers who are successful
with the range doing that others may not
be doing?
SS: It's difficult to assess this early, however
we anticipate that retailers who take the time to
share the story of the notion of connecting the
hand to the heart will have the most success.
Sixteen cards comprise the range, each with a suggested retail of $12. Circle 197.
ST: Is there anything else you'd like to share
with Stationery Trends readers?
SS: The current market for braille greeting
cards lacks diversity and we hope to provide
an exciting new way for the blind to celebrate
occasions and special moments, while also
experiencing this ancient art form. Quilling
is truly an art for all the senses. The Braille
Collection offers a unique capability in that
every design is as beautiful to experience by
sight as it is by touch, making the cards an ideal
gift for anyone! S T
STATIONERYTRENDS.COM
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http://www.STATIONERYTRENDS.COM
Summer 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Summer 2020
