Gen Z may have grown up in a digital-first world, but new survey data from Minted, the leading consumer tech platform known for premium stationery, art, and home decor, suggests the generation is placing greater value on experiences that feel physical, personal and lasting. From choosing premium greeting cards for life’s biggest moments to seeking art made for people by people, Gen Z is signaling a desire for originality, quality and authenticity in a world that is becoming increasingly digital. That interest is showing up on social media, too: in 2025, the volume of social posts signaling intent to buy premium stationery rose 23 percent year over year.

According to Minted’s survey, 98 percent of Gen Z say premium physical products are important for major life milestones, while 89 percent say receiving a physical card makes them feel special and 70 percent say they’ll pay a premium for human-made artwork, signaling a broader desire and cultural shift for originality, quality and human touch.

The findings point to a growing trend across the stationery market – one that Minted has anticipated through its focus on human-crafted design, customization and premium materials:

  • 59 percent of Gen Z says that physical paper products matter for important life moments, with the premium end of the category growing twice as fast in sales as the value segment.

  • 67 percent of consumers choose premium paper products to mark life’s milestones, with meaningfulness (44%), material quality (43%) and uniqueness or keepsake value (41%) among the top reasons premium resonates.

  • 72 percent of Gen Z enjoy personalizing what they buy, which Minted makes easy.

  • 62 percent of Gen Z choose premium products they are proud to share with friends and family on social media.

  • 70 percent of Gen Z are willing to pay more for human-made design.

“Gen Z has come of age in an overwhelmingly digital world, yet, they long for the personal, tangible, and lasting,” said Melissa Kim, CEO and Co-Founder of Minted. “We built Minted around this idea – human-crafted design, premium materials, authenticity – because the products that mark life’s most meaningful moments are worth keeping. We’re seeing that resonate in the market, with Minted capturing 40% of premium-intent search interest in our category. Gen Z’s desire for meaningful, physical, intentional experiences is becoming more essential in an increasingly digital world.”

The findings also reinforce Minted’s artist-centered approach to AI. As AI-generated content becomes increasingly prevalent online, consumers draw a distinction between technology that enhances human creativity and technology that replaces it. Minted’s AI strategy, announced earlier this year, remains focused on authentic human-crafted design, paired with AI-powered customization tools. Minted’s goal is to help its 20,000+ independent artists flourish creatively and economically in an AI world.

ABOUT MINTED

Minted is a leading consumer tech platform, known for premium stationery, art, and home decor. Minted systematically sources unique and on-trend design content by crowdsourcing thousands of designs per week from more than 20,000 independent artists around the world. Minted empowers independent artists to earn income from every purchase of their design, while Minted handles manufacturing, marketing, customer services, and fulfillment.

Since its founding in 2007, Minted products have reached more than 90 million homes worldwide. Minted also builds traditional retail distribution for its independent artist community, partnering with major retailers and consumer products brands. The company has raised more than $300 million from top-tier investors including Benchmark Capital, T. Rowe Price, Permira, Ridge Ventures, Technology Crossover Ventures, and Norwest. Learn more at minted.com.

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