| GD
Basics |
RSA
Stamp Design |
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| Example brief
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| For Royal Society of Arts [RSA],
whose work was and still is associated with
arts, culture, social and commercial life
and it is a challenge to design a stamp -
'so small' - that reflects 250 years of RSA
achievements. |
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| The brief is - to "design
a set of stamps that expresses the RSA
activity and describes the organization
as forward-thinking, forward-looking,
through images that could be pertinent
and of interest to the stamp buying
public." |
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| Research |
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| The
Royal Society of Art |
| The research involved
gathering relevant information
on RSA achievements and make notes
on important happenings within
society which could be used to
integrate the past history and
the present time. Resources I
had used are: RSA library, V&A,
books, journals and the Internet |
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| Stamps |
| Carry on research
on stamp by definition, history,
how to design stamps, printing
methods, celebration, commemoration
and collection of stamps (philately) |
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| Evaluation of Research |
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| Redefine the brief
in response to the research gathered.
Make a choice on interpretation
style and design methods to express
the objectives |
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| As any brief should
be challenged - RSA request was
to: portray the RSA as a "forward-thinking,
forward-looking". I did challenge
that statement as I believe that
people understanding is based
depending on their knowledge in
which case I had chosen to design
a set of stamps that would reflect
the connection with the past developments
or achievements and the present
day, in contents with reflection
on the behavior of cultures within
society of our time |
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| Ideas |
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| IDEA
1 - |
Typography |
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From
the readings on The Great International
Exhibition of 1851 (Art Journal)
I came across some very interesting,
old statements made expressing
individuals points of views (at
that time) relating to the RSA
organization. Use of appropriate
words/phrases, could very well
summarize the achievements of
RSA over the 250 years of existence |
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| IDEA
2 - |
People |
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Use
of photographs or create icons
- representing important people
and their achievements associated
with the RSA and RDI
(Royal Designers of Industry -
part of RSA) |
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| IDEA
3 - |
Medals |
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Use
of medals as: the shape - circle,
or image imprint with background
of nature, environment and scientific
developments and achievement initiated
by the RSA |
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| IDEA
4 - |
Architecture
or Location |
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Architecture
of the RSA building is a very
traditional design with it's historical
values, which in outline could
be used in many different ways
but always would be recognized
and associated with the RSA. Being
British organization could be
represented by the use of color,
something like a London landmark
or by the use of shape as drawn
on the door entrance - from Charring
Cross Road into the RSA building |
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| Evaluation |
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| This
project aims was to response and challenge
the brief and to think beyond conventional
treatments and styles demonstrating originality
of thought and approach based on sound research |
| STAMP |
Design |
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In
stamp design main considerations is
scale and size, use of typography, use
of appropriate images and its performance
at reduced size. Stamp could be an autograph,
an impression, a record, spot, dot,
stain, stroke, symbol, tag, trademark,
label, image, type, distinction or an
emblem. Include representation of achievements
and important events initiated by RSA
through 250 years of its existence |
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| MARKET |
To whom
the design is directed to |
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A
stamp is receipt for a service and is
available to everyone wishing to use
postal service. This service covers
the globe and therefore the stamp is
an Ambassador for its originators and
widely sought as a collectable item
within philately. Develop an image in
social contents that people can relate
to internationally |
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| IDEAS |
Evaluation |
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Decisions
had to be made on how to integrate the
research material within design to create
one consistent image of representation
for the 250 years RSA Anniversary Stamp
Collections. |
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After careful
consideration my chosen format included
words - typography, people achievements
connected with the RSA and RDI and the
localization of the RSA - characteristic
architecture outline, used as a background |
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| Design justifications |
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| STAMPS |
A
collection of 4 stamps created by dividing
the period of 250 years of the RSA in
to 4 groups as: 18th Century, 19th Century,
20th Century and 21st Century |
| WORDS
and TYPE |
The
RSA opened their door to the general
public during the Open House weekend
(event 2001) in London. From this I
thought of an expression in words that
begins with the letters 'IN' as "the
- IN - thing" (happening now).
Other words could summarize the achievements
of RSA over the 250 years and finally
use of typography, designed during that
period of time as 18th, 19th, 20th and
21st century type |
| PEOPLE |
Used
outline of tea pots designed by RDI
members in that time, as from social
and cultural point of view our society
has not changed that much (since 1754)
and tea or coffee drinking activity
is still our favorite leisure time and
indicates friendliness. In the last
stamp an open house door indicates an
open house of the RSA |
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| The book of stamps |
Front, Back cover as
a postcard |
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| STAMP
1 - |
Represents
18th Century, when in 1754 the first
meeting of RSA was held at Rawthmell's
coffee house in Covent Garden, initiated
by social activist William Shipley and
the suggestion that prices should be
offered for the INVESTIGATION
/ INNOVATION -
into cobalt (blue color/die mainly used
in ceramics) and madder (red color/die
mainly used in coloring fabrics). The
first award of 50 pounds was given to
Cornish, UK, mine in 1755 by the RSA
for the discovery of cobalt and for
growth of madder.(I)
Tea pot outline - based on Pineapple
tea pot designed by Whieldon and Wedgwood
1740-50 from a book 'Novelty Tea Pots'.
(Wedgwood Museum view) |
| STAMP
2 - |
Represents
19th Century and the fact that RSA INITIATED
the First ever INTERNATIONAL
Great Exhibition IGE
of 1851, London. At the same time my
research raveled that Henry
Cole (1808 - 1882) who was the IGE
Chairman of Council at that time designed
tea pot. That was the reason I had used
tea pots through my stamp designs as
it represents the era and the British
tea/coffee drinking society culture
at that time |
| STAMP
3 - |
Represents
20th Century INTELLECT
/ INTEGRATION and formation of
the RDI
in 1936 by RSA 'to encourage a high
standards in industrial design and enhance
the status of designers'. The modern
tea pot was designed by David Mellor,
RDI |
| STAMP
4 - |
Represents
21st Century, clear line drawing presenting
RSA historical building with its open
doors to the public and by the use of
typography indicate friendliness and
flexibility of the RSA on their 250
Anniversary Celebration |
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| (I)
- The house and the beginning of RSA from
'The History of Royal Society of Art', written
by Sir Henry Truman Wood, Secretary of the
society, 1913, London, RSA |
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