ABOUT
“Imagination is the highest kite one can fly.”
Our Mission
Raising kids in a digital world is not easy. Finding balance is a relentless challenge facing today’s parents. Persistent updates and digital innovations vie for our kids' time so, with balance in mind, we created MindShot to counter that by designing cool analogue products that deliver reliable screen-free bursts of creative focus.
Our pocket-sized, themed activity packs offer children bite-sized doses of creative play. Each MindShot pack is designed to be completed with a 20-minute attention time goal (though our testing shows kids actually spend a lot longer once they’re in!).
MindShot is a cool, creative alternative to screen-time for kids, at home and on the go – the perfect ‘mental snack’.
Our Story
As a mum, MindShot Founder Rossana Shokrian knows the temptation of using screen-time as a babysitter, but also that it can be problematic. Kids’ clamouring for the phone is a source of tension in many families. Unable to find an alternative that was at once convenient, absorbing and globally aware, she began developing her own ideas, bringing in the ultimate experts in child engagement, her two young kids.
MindShot is the first product created under the Digital Detox Kids (DDK) umbrella. The aim is not to counter technology – it is part of life in many wonderful ways – but to offer healthy breaks from screen-time that inspire, support and expand young minds.
Our Team
MindShot and DDK Founder, Rossana Shokrian has 20 years experience as a creative media professional within print publishing and television, both in the US and UK, including for CNN, New York Times, Vanity Fair and Net-A-Porter.
Editorial Director and collaborator, Marion Jones has 25 years creative editorial experience across fashion and publishing brands including Elle, Condé Nast, London Fashion Week The Daily, matchesfashion.com and Net-A-Porter. Marion has played a vital role in launching and developing MindShot. A passionate advocate for sustainability, Marion has been the lead on our environmental responsibility, our charity partnerships and has brought valuable recognition to MindShot through award submissions that have led us to several notable wins.
Our Artists
Natalia Bagniewska designed and illustrated our first MindShot series, Nature + Now. Natalia has previously worked with non-profits for climate change, as well as for sustainable-fashion, food and community projects. Natalia also designed our original MindShot packaging, and original logos for both MindShot and Digital Detox Kids (DDK).
Rory Wynn works in a combination of painting and digital illustration, printmaking and 3D, and he designed and illustrated our MindShot Messing + Expressing series. Rory’s work celebrates diversity and his images emphasise silliness and freedom – perfect for our accessible creativity theme in Messing + Expressing, especially as his illustrations are often plugged with humour. Rory is part of ISSHOO Collective, making murals and collaborating on large-scale projects.
Ollie Weaver is an illustrator and animator, and designed and illustrated our MindShot Me + Mine series. A graduate of Camberwell College of Arts, Ollie is a colourblind artist, whose palette often goes against the grain to produce unique images that help other colourblind people. With his cool, bold graphics, Ollie enjoys working on children’s projects, and his off-the-wall but sympathetic style is perfect for our child-centred, heartfelt Me + Mine series.
Our Partners
We give a percentage of any profits we make with charities, both to do good, and to show children that with their buying choices, they themselves can do good.
For MindShot Nature + Now, we have partnered with Born Free. Its mission – to #KeepWildlifeInTheWild wherever possible, to have all animals treated with compassion and respect, and to help wild animals, humans and local ecosystems thrive together.
For MindShot Messing + Expressing, we have partnered with Kind. This Liverpool charity has been making a difference to the lives of less advantaged local children and families since 1975, with inspiring creative and educational programmes.
For MindShot Me + Mine, we have partnered with the Copenhagen Youth Project. CYP's mission is to "create a safe and supportive space where young people can thrive." The charity's work is based on the belief that all young people have the potential to succeed, regardless of their background or circumstances. CYP works to provide young people with the skills, opportunities, and support they need to reach their full potential.
Our Ethics
We are committed to being a trusted, ethical and mindful friend to our MindShot community and to our planet.
We have produced our MindShot activity packs using fully reyclable FSC-certified paper and natural inks, both for packaging and activities. Check locally for the tattoo cover sheets, which are not always recyclable, so we are working on that.
We choose local partners to help produce MindShot where possible. MindShot is ideated, created and designed from London, and we thank Pinnacle for helping us find a best-practice factory in China for manufacturing MindShot.
As we go forward, we continue to learn and will share more.
April 2023