GUM: Graphic design through the stamp
I created an independent art magazine, GUM, a magazine that presents stamps as bold visual artefacts through large-scale imagery, experimental layouts, and thematic curation – not as boring collectables. Each issue centres on a specific category, whether by country, scale, or subject, revealing the brilliant design behind these often ignored artworks. ➸ Awarded The Examiners’ Award for Excellence from the Department of Graphic Communication & Typography at the University of Reading – recognised for creative vision, diverse layouts, and reimagining historic graphic artefacts.
CLIENT
Student project
DELIVERABLES
Magazine issue 1 Issue 2 & 3 covers
YEAR
2024
SCOPE
Entirety of project
Process
Cover Ideation
In the development of my covers, I explored different ideas for how I could subvert the viewer’s perception of a stamp, experimenting with scale and context, as well as others that focused on the stamp designs themselves.
Image treatment
I explored different image treatments throughout, blowing some stamps to huge proportions, playing on the idea of a ‘poster stamp’ being a poster. I also created patterns from isolated illustrations taken from stamps, as well as created ‘stickers’.
A variety of image treatments throughout was key. Gum is distinctly imagery based, with its very purpose being to display the visual flair of each stamp.
Outcome
The final magazine showcases stamps as the graphic design pieces they are, achieving what I set out to do. GUM’s image-led design and contemporary layouts ensures each spread feels curated for creatives rather than collectors, while varied treatments – from macro zooms to repeated motifs – keep the visual language dynamic.
The project was recognised with The Examiners’ Award for Excellence, commended for its creative vision, diverse layouts, and reimagining of historic graphic artefacts for a contemporary audience.
