Design-led card publisher Think of Me Design was already in celebratory mode, as 2019 marks the 15th anniversary of the company, but discovering that one of its designs has reached the finals in the US greeting card awards, The Louies was extra cause for whoops of joy from the company’s co-founders Dan and Freya Kane, who now live in California, though the operational side of the business remains in the UK.
For all this joy, the publisher is also addressing matters on a more serious note, looking to minimise the impact it has on the environment.
A side effect of the Kanes’ move to the edge of the Pacific Ocean has been an increased awareness as a company of environmental issues, specifically the overuse of plastics. “We see the damage that is being done to the oceans through the world’s over-reliance on plastics firsthand, and it is important to act now to maintain what we have and attempt to restore what we’ve lost. Environmental awareness is a big issue here, and our local beaches have frequent cleanup days in which we and our children participate,” says Dan.
Proud to work in an industry that has chosen to try to make a difference and take steps to cut down on plastic use, the publisher’s retail customers now have the option, through its ‘Think of Me Naked’ campaign to receive their cards without the cello packaging.
“We’re realistic, we are not going to be able to rid our industry of plastic overnight, but the ‘naked’ campaign works in a similar way that the 5p charge for a plastic carrier bag does. It forces us to make a conscious decision about our plastic use. I’m optimistic that we have reached a point where we can pull together and make a real difference for future generations,” Dan passionately states.
The publisher’s passion extends to design, reflected in its Christmas Taxi design reaching the finals of The Louies, the US greeting card awards, in the Christmas/Seasonal under $4 category.
Commenting, Dan said: “We are delighted and honoured to be chosen as finalists in this year’s Louie Awards to be held in New York in May. We’re looking forward to flying the flag for UK greeting card design with our fellow UK finalists!” referring to that fact that Laura Sherratt Design and Purpose & Worth also feted in the line-up.
* A full article on Think of Me’s 15th anniversary appears in the February edition of Progressive Greetings, click here to read the article.
Top: One of Think of Me’s designs from its new Aloha range.
