March Birth Stationery
Birth Stationery
Sticky Notes
Sticky notes were born from a 'weak adhesive' accidentally created by 3M researcher Spencer Silver in 1968 while developing a strong adhesive. This invention, initially thought to be a failure, was combined with Art Fry's idea of 'bookmarks that don't fall out' in 1974 and was commercialized as Post-it Notes in 1980. Chosen for March's graduation season, sticky notes accompany the season of farewells and new encounters as tools that reliably convey precious thoughts of the moment while being designed to be removed. Like cherry blossom petals, ephemeral yet beautiful, they serve as messengers connecting people's hearts.
Features
- Special adhesive allows messages to be left without leaving traces when removed
- Various colors and sizes enable different uses according to emotions and purposes
- Layering creates temporal dimensions, allowing memories to accumulate
- Freely repositionable and rewritable, embodying gentleness that doesn't demand perfection
- Conveys the warmth of handwritten messages even in the digital age
Personality
- Modest and gentle, quietly accompanying others without intrusion
- Cherishes once-in-a-lifetime encounters, purely conveying thoughts of the moment
- Possesses grace in departing quietly once its purpose is fulfilled, without attachment
- Humble power that creates significant impact despite its small presence
- Approachability open to everyone and flexibility that draws out each user's individuality
Symbolic Meaning
- March's sentiment of simultaneously holding farewell sadness and hope for new encounters
- Eternal value and beauty within temporary connections
- Gentle bridge that gives form to unspoken feelings
- Ephemeral nature like cherry blossom petals and their momentary brilliance
- Symbol of human warmth in digital society
Reason for Selection
- March is graduation season in Japan with a culture of exchanging farewell messages
- Coinciding with cherry blossom season, the beautiful yet ephemeral nature of sticky notes harmonizes with seasonal feelings
- Practical reason as sticky notes are actively used for organization and handovers during new fiscal year preparations
- 66.4% of people view spring as 'season of encounters,' functioning as a tool for building new relationships
- A time when the value of handwritten messages is rediscovered amid advancing digitalization
Protection & Effects
- Guardian of communication ensuring precious thoughts reach important people
- Keeper of memories temporarily holding what must not be forgotten
- Helper of expression giving form to difficult-to-verbalize gratitude and encouragement
- Facilitates smooth communication as a lubricant for human relationships
- Ally of insight capturing small realizations and discoveries without missing them
Trials & Growth
- Learning impermanence by accepting temporary existence
- Trial of expression condensing thoughts into limited space
- Need for ingenuity to show presence as something easily overlooked
- Weight of responsibility to write messages that remain in hearts after removal
- Challenge of proving analog value while coexisting with digital tools