Creating Inclusive Greeting Cards: The Story Behind Our Braille Collection

When I first started Scribbles & Paper, I thought I understood what "thoughtful design" meant. Beautiful paper, modern aesthetics, quality craftsmanship—these were the pillars I built my handmade stationery business on. But it wasn't until I received a message from Sarah, a customer who is visually impaired, that I truly understood what inclusive design could mean.

"Do you make any cards I could actually read?" she asked simply.

That question changed everything.

The Moment That Sparked Change

Sarah's message hit me harder than I expected. Here I was, creating products meant to help people connect and express themselves, yet I was inadvertently excluding an entire community. The irony wasn't lost on me—greeting cards are all about human connection, but how can you connect when you can't even read the message?

I spent the next few weeks researching and learning about accessible design. What I discovered was both eye-opening and heartbreaking. The greeting card industry, despite its focus on sentiment and emotion, had largely overlooked the needs of people with visual impairments. Most cards rely entirely on visual elements, leaving millions of people unable to fully experience the joy of giving and receiving thoughtful cards.

That's when I knew I had to do something different.

The Challenge of Creating Braille Greeting Cards

Creating Braille greeting cards wasn't as simple as I initially thought. It required learning an entirely new craft and understanding the nuances of tactile communication. Each raised dot had to be precisely placed, with exact spacing and depth to ensure readability.

I started by learning Braille myself—not just the alphabet, but the contractions, formatting rules, and the subtle art of translating emotions into this beautiful tactile language. I discovered that Braille isn't just functional; it can be elegant and sophisticated when thoughtfully designed.

The technical challenges were significant too. Traditional greeting card paper is often too thin for Braille embossing, so I had to source heavier cardstock that could support the raised dots without tearing. The embossing process itself required specialized equipment and countless test runs to achieve the right pressure and clarity.

More Than Just Accessibility—It's About Dignity

As I developed the collection, I realized this project was about much more than accessibility. It was about dignity, independence, and the fundamental human need to give and receive heartfelt messages.

Think about it: when was the last time you picked out a greeting card? You probably ran your fingers over different textures, admired the colors, read through various sentiments until you found the perfect words. Now imagine being told, "Don't worry, someone will read it to you later." The experience becomes secondhand, dependent on others.

Our Braille greeting cards restore that independence. They allow people to privately read their cards, to discover the message at their own pace, and to experience that moment of connection exactly as it was intended.

The Design Philosophy Behind Each Card

Each card in our Braille collection follows the same design principles as all our stationery: modern, elegant, and thoughtfully crafted. But they also incorporate elements specifically designed for tactile exploration.

We use subtle texture contrasts that can be felt as well as seen, creating cards that are beautiful to both sighted and visually impaired recipients. The Braille text is positioned strategically on each card, with plenty of space for fingers to move comfortably across the surface.

The messages themselves are carefully chosen—some playful, some heartfelt, all universal in their appeal. We include both traditional greetings and more contemporary sentiments, because everyone deserves options that match their personality and relationships. Our "I Love You" Braille card, for example, transforms a simple but powerful message into something that can be privately discovered and treasured.

The Response That Validates Everything

The response to our Braille collection has been overwhelming. We've received messages from customers who were moved to tears receiving their first readable greeting card in years. Parents have written to thank us for creating cards their children can give to visually impaired grandparents. Teachers have shared how these cards have sparked important conversations about inclusion in their classrooms.

But the message that meant the most came from Sarah, the customer whose original question started this journey. She ordered a set of our Braille cards and wrote back: "For the first time in years, I was able to privately read a birthday card from my daughter. Thank you for giving me back that moment."

What This Means for the Future

The Braille collection represents more than just a product line for us—it's a commitment to inclusive design that will influence everything we create going forward. We're constantly asking ourselves: who might we be unintentionally excluding, and how can we design better?

We're already working on expanding the collection with seasonal cards, thank-you notes, and even Braille notepads for daily use. Our current embossed greeting card set is just the beginning of what we hope will be a comprehensive line of accessible stationery products.

The Bigger Picture

Creating our Braille collection taught me that true thoughtful design isn't just about aesthetics—it's about empathy. It's about understanding that beauty comes in many forms, including the elegant simplicity of raised dots that can convey love, celebration, sympathy, and joy.

In a world that's increasingly digital, the tactile experience of a physical greeting card becomes even more precious. When that card can be read and appreciated by anyone, regardless of visual ability, it becomes something truly special.

Every time someone chooses one of our Braille greeting cards, they're making a statement about inclusion and dignity. They're saying that everyone deserves to fully experience the joy of giving and receiving heartfelt messages.

That's the kind of world I want to help create, one thoughtfully designed card at a time.

Our Braille greeting card collection features a variety of sentiments for birthdays, holidays, and everyday occasions. Each card is carefully embossed with Grade 2 Braille and includes a traditional envelope. Browse the full collection and help us make meaningful connections accessible to everyone.