Writing and Art as emotional connection tools in a postcard workshop: a case study of the impact on interpersonal communication

Abstract

This study explores the impact of handwriting on the emotional experience of university students within an arts-based educational context that integrates drawing and visual intervention as catalysts for reflective and affective writing. Using a critical phenomenological approach, 116 students participated in a writing and drawing workshop inspired by Saul Steinberg’s postcards, created in a context of displacement. Data were collected through a 17-question open-ended survey and analyzed with Atlas.ti. Results indicate that handwriting enhances emotional expression, message clarity, and emotional bonds, surpassing digital communication, especially in physical formats. An implication of the study is to recover the value of handwriting in education and integrate it as a tool to foster reflection and emotional connection. The limitations of the study address the small sample size and the qualitative approach, which restricts the generalization of the results.