Objective

Create a series of USPS stamps that celebrates the evolution of American music, with each design capturing the spirit of a different genre while still feeling like part of one collection.

My Role

Theme research and concept building
Illustration and visual development
Typography and layout design
Color palette testing
Final stamp designs and mockups

Creative Process

1. Picking the Theme
I started by diving into the history of American music and landed on four genres that helped shape it all: blues, jazz, rock, and hip-hop. Each one felt different in tone and energy, so the challenge was figuring out how to reflect that while still making them all feel connected.

2. Visual Exploration
I experimented with different styles and icons for each genre, pulling in textures, instruments, and patterns that fit the mood of the music. I built out a color palette for each stamp that felt true to the era and sound, like deep golds for jazz or bold reds for rock.

3. Layout and Typography
I played around with typefaces that matched the vibe of each genre, pairing them with illustration in a way that felt balanced but still had personality. I had to make sure everything stayed legible, especially since stamps are so small.

4. Bringing it All Together
Once each stamp worked on its own, I focused on making sure the whole set felt like a family. I cleaned up spacing, adjusted layout details, and made mockups to show how they’d look on envelopes, in a collector’s sheet, or in a campaign.

Results

This project taught me how to take a big cultural theme and translate it into something small but powerful. Each stamp has its own style, but together they tell a larger story about American music. It pushed me to be more intentional with illustration, type, and layout, and to think about how design can carry meaning—even at under two inches wide.

‍

‍