Space, the final frontier

Maybe one of the biggest challenges in design is how to use small spaces. What could be more challenging than designing for postage stamps.

These Polish stamps are genius, designed in 1962 to celebrate the Soviet Union's technical achievements in orbit - they gazumped the United States in the space race, which promoted Kennedy to initiate the programme to land a man on the moon.

Like Kennedy's remark "…We choose to go not because it is easy but because it is hard." Designing with limited resources - such as space, or simple printing processes can produce surprising outcomes.

The stamps are enduring works of art. They communicate a powerful story and they do so with an economy of expression that is refreshing even 45 years later.

I think every designer should be thinking carefully about lessness to make moreness.

Heads up from I Love Typography blog

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