Designers
Designers
Designers
Pens to Pedals
Pens to Pedals connects people through a cycling-inspired pen-pal program using handwritten letters.
Designers
Elizabeth Tay
Key Words
Sereen Gallichio
Youn Hwang
SUMMARY
Pens to Pedals is an initiative inspired by Richard Sachs, rooted in his commitment to analog experiences and craftsmanship. The project fosters authentic connections through this pen pal program that revives handwritten letters. To raise awareness, we launched an Instagram campaign that successfully engaged participants. We also designed a handmade leather stationery box as a thoughtful enhancement to complement the analog experience, emphasizing the program's focus on meaningful, offline interactions in a digital-first world.
challenge
We identified a gap in fostering genuine connections in a digitally saturated world, where the cycling community and Richard Sachs’ enthusiasts expressed a strong desire for analog experiences. This highlighted the opportunity to create a program that revives the lost art of handwritten letters while staying relevant through digital awareness. Instagram was used to share instructions and spark participation, ensuring the program’s analog essence remained intact while leveraging accessible tools to scale its reach.
Outcome
The project evolved into Pens to Pedals, an analog-centric pen-pal program with handwritten letters at its core. Instagram served as an engagement tool to funnel participants into the program, maintaining focus on offline connections. Additionally, we created a PenPal Kit featuring a handcrafted leather box as an optional enhancement, enriching the analog experience. This outcome directly addresses stakeholder needs for authentic, meaningful connections while effectively navigating the balance between analog values and digital reach.
MEET THE Designers:
Elizabeth Tay
Sereen Gallichio
Youn Hwang