Return To Sender eco-coffins was fonded in 2007 as a reponse to a shortage of authentic coffins in the New Zealand market. The iconic shape of the first design (Artisan) has allowed the business to have an infuence far greater than would have been possible by simply replacing MDF and plastic with real timber. Here is an example of design making a difference: the Artisan will be on display at the Smithsonians Cooper Hewett, National Design Museum in New York until January 2011 - obviously this would not have come about if Return To Sender just made simple, authentic coffins. Good design has the power to convey a story and have people question the current paradigm. Perhaps this exhibition will have people consider the 90,000 tons of steel, 3000 tons of copper / bronze and 1.6 million tons of reinforced concrete used to bury Americans every year.