Hello Creators! By now you’re probably in the midst of Father’s Day orders, and potentially are gearing up for (dare we say it) Christmas! But we wanted to take some time to champion a few thortful dads, and what creating means to them.
Join us as we speak to Daniel Benney and Tom, from That Little Map Shop.
Can you tell us a bit about your journey into greeting card creation? What inspired you to start?
I was looking for a way to make a little extra money through my art. A friend told me about thortful and I thought I’d give it a try. I’m so glad I did!
Can you tell us a bit about your journey into greeting card creation? What inspired you to start?
I love making maps! So I set up That Little Map Shop a couple of years ago as a means through which to sell my map illustrations. Originally I was focused on just selling prints for people to put in frames and display at home, but after a short while I was keen to diversify the range of products I have available, which is where the idea for greeting cards came about. I initially trialled a small batch of designs at a local market and they proved to be a hit! This is what inspired me to make map-themed greeting cards a core part of my product range going forward!
How has being a dad influenced your creativity and themes in your greeting cards?
Dan:
My kids have unlocked shows like Bluey and the Nick Cope Popcast. A lot of them are beautifully drawn and animated and inspire me to pick up a pen and doodle.
Tom:
I always enjoyed finding the right card for my Dad whenever Father’s Day came around. Something that matched his interests and sense a humour. Now that I’m a Dad myself I can better appreciate what needs to go into a good card design and what will appeal to people. So I’ve tried to combine that understanding with my passion for maps to come up with a suitable range of map-themed greeting cards.
How do you balance your time between family and creating greeting cards?
Dan:
It’s a struggle. I have to be militant with my spare time. When you’re a new parent, “Creative time” drops to almost zero. But the great thing about greeting cards is you can chip away at a card design with the TV on and it can be quite relaxing.
Tom:
Being a dad means I have two little people to regularly bounce my card design ideas off. For me, the design process is about having fun and being creative, and involving the kids in that process is a great way to combine work time with family time. It also helps keep the kids off their tablets and games consoles!
Do your children ever inspire specific designs or messages in your cards? Can you share an example?
Dan:
Not yet, but my nephews have. I’ve made an “8th Birthday – facts about the number 8” card because one of them had a birthday coming up. I wanted him to have something fun but educational too so I created that card.
Tom:
My ‘Mappy Birthday’ card was actually my son’s idea. Knowing how much I love maps, he thought it was funny on my birthday to wish me a ‘Mappy Birthday’….later that night a new greeting card design was born!
Can you walk us through your creative process for designing a greeting card?
Dan:
I keep card ideas in the notes app on my phone. When one idea pops up more than once I think the idea must have legs. Then I do some quick rough concepts and share them with friends to see if they resonate. Next I work up final versions in Adobe Fresco on the iPad, finish them off in InDesign, then upload.
Tom:
The main theme running through all my designs is mapping. With that in mind, I go away and research what is already out there of a similar nature. In many cases, what seems like a unique idea has actually already been thought of by multiple other card makers. So I try to find those gaps in the market where my designs can bring something new to the party. I then put pen to paper (or Apple Pencil to iPad) and get doodling. Some designs come quickly, others take a few attempts before I’m happy. But no design gets signed off without first having been approved by my wife!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being both a dad and a creator?
Dan:
I get to spend loads of time with my kids. I also get to come up with silly ideas and make a little bit of extra money. I can be a hands-on Dad who’s fully present in my children’s lives, but I also have a focused outlet for my creativity. Plus, it’s given me confidence to be more entrepreneurial.
Tom:
Positive customer feedback is definitely the most rewarding aspect of being a creator. Seeing people engage with my art and purchasing my designs always brings a smile to my face. And being able to provide for my family through my side hustle just makes it all the more worthwhile.
What was the first card you ever created, and what was the inspiration behind it?
Dan:
I worked in an office where my friend Nathan would come up with fun “guess the…” games. I thought “that would make a great greetings card!” So we collaborated on the first design which was “guess the superheroes”. And, over 38,000 card sales later, the rest is history. Other creators have even started copying the concept, which is frustrating but shows it’s a good idea!
Tom:
My first ever card design came about by chance. I was struggling to find a suitable card to give my mum for mother birthday, when I had the idea of making a card of my own using a map design of where she grew up. My mum loved the card and that began my first step into the world of greeting cards.
Any advice for other dads who also create cards?
Dan:
When you get to the end of a busy day, it can be hard to keep momentum. Keep a “To Do” list with very focused actions on it. Then, in those tiny, rare moments of free time, you can open it up and be laser focused with what you need to work on.
Tom:
Keep creating and have fun with it!
Thanks for joining us for another Creator Spotlight. We hope you all have a wonderful Father’s Day, however you’re spending it.
Team thortful
