STAMP IT!
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| BRIEF |
Produce a set of 4 postage stamps that effectively and creatively communicate a unique and informed
response to theRSA Postage Stamp Brief. You will also be required to produce the first day cover
packaging and design/propose any promotional material that you see as relevant to their release
Your response should generate interest in your subject as well as inform people about the content. |
| Background / Considerations |
As a designer you have to become an instant expert, fan and enthusiast on any given subject. Fast and
thorough research is key in order to find interesting, unique and useful information. You will need to
quickly understand the breadth of your subject before focussing on specific informed content.
Your response should aim to:
- produce an innovative response that goes beyond conventional treatments and styles
- look at recent examples of innovation in stamp design
- demonstrate originality of thought and approach based on sound research
- a new, younger and more visually aware generation of stamp users and collectors.
The success of your designs will be judged on the following criteria:
- Design craft – does your solution look and feel the best it can?
- Ingenuity – is it frugal with resources, is it surprising, and does it solve a
- problem?
- Insight – what need, gap or opportunity have you discovered and how?
- Communication – is it easy to understand and does it inspire people?
- Social benefit – how does it help society as a whole?
A stamp is a distinctive mark or impression made upon an object, a device used to make it, or a distinctive
sticker applied to an object. It may also include other vouchers or records with similar purposes.
Types of stamps, and
related subjects, include
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamp |
I looked at already existing post stamps, I looked at various ones, Lithuanian stamps, British stamps, interesting stamps and environmental friendly ones. I was quite surprised to find how detailed they can be. For such a small format they have a lot of imagery and colours. I think it might be because they used to be used quite a lot, even now people still tend to like letters that come with stamps. I am thinking g to do a series of stamps. I'm still going to look into the idea and the problem I intend to solve.
Problem: consumers consume three times more than the earth can consume.
How can we help: innovative ways to optimise energy and reduce waist
REDUCE ---> REUSE ---> RECYCLE
Explore: energy conservation, low impact transport, eco friendly products, zero-carbon housing, reducing water under consumption, educating younger generation for a brighter future.
Off to the library to save the world! :>
EASY ENERGY-SAVING HABITS (Free!)
Don't forget the basics. This simple stuff will save energy -- and money -- right now.
- Unplug
- Unplug seldom-used appliances, like an extra refrigerator in the basement or garage that contains just a few items. You may save around $10 every month on your utility bill.
- Unplug your chargers when you're not charging. Every house is full of little plastic power supplies to charge cell phones, PDA's, digital cameras, cordless tools and other personal gadgets. Keep them unplugged until you need them.
- Use power strips to switch off televisions, home theater equipment, and stereos when you're not using them. Even when you think these products are off, together, their "standby" consumption can be equivalent to that of a 75 or 100 watt light bulb running continuously.
- Set Computers to Sleep and Hibernate
- Enable the "sleep mode" feature on your computer, allowing it to use less power during periods of inactivity. In Windows, the power management settings are found on your control panel. Mac users, look for energy saving settings under system preferences in the apple menu.
- Configure your computer to "hibernate" automatically after 30 minutes or so of inactivity. The "hibernate mode" turns the computer off in a way that doesn't require you to reload everything when you switch it back on. Allowing your computer to hibernate saves energy and is more time-efficient than shutting down and restarting your computer from scratch. When you're done for the day, shut down.
- Take Control of Temperature
- Set your thermostat in winter to 68 degrees or less during the daytime, and 55 degrees before going to sleep (or when you're away for the day). During the summer, set thermostats to 78 degrees or more.
- Use sunlight wisely. During the heating season, leave shades and blinds open on sunny days, but close them at night to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows. Close shades and blinds during the summer or when the air conditioner is in use or will be in use later in the day.
- Set the thermostat on your water heater between 120 and 130 degrees. Lower temperatures can save more energy, but you might run out of hot water or end up using extra electricity to boost the hot water temperature in your dishwasher.
- Use Appliances Efficiently
- Set your refrigerator temperature at 38 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit; your freezer should be set between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Use the power-save switch if your fridge has one, and make sure the door seals tightly. You can check this by making sure that a dollar bill closed in between the door gaskets is difficult to pull out. If it slides easily between the gaskets, replace them.
- Don't preheat or "peek" inside the oven more than necessary. Check the seal on the oven door, and use a microwave oven for cooking or reheating small items.
- Wash only full loads in your dishwasher, using short cycles for all but the dirtiest dishes. This saves water and the energy used to pump and heat it. Air-drying, if you have the time, can also reduce energy use.
- In your clothes washer, set the appropriate water level for the size of the load; wash in cold water when practical, and always rinse in cold.
- Clean the lint filter in the dryer after each use. Dry heavy and light fabrics separately and don't add wet items to a load that's already partly dry. If available, use the moisture sensor setting. (A clothesline is the most energy-efficient clothes dryer of all!)
- Turn Out the Lights
- Don't forget to flick the switch when you leave a room.
- Remember this at the office, too. Turn out or dim the lights in unused conference rooms, and when you step out for lunch. Work by daylight when possible. A typical commercial building uses more energy for lighting than anything else.
Many items found around the home can be used for different purposes. So before you throw those items away, think about how they can be reused. Below are some suggestions of how to reuse those everyday bits and pieces.
Reusable Items
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| Carrier bags and twist ties. Carrier bags can be reused in the shops or as bin bags around the house. Paper bags make useful wrapping paper and twist ties can be used to secure loose items together, such as computer wires. |
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| Envelopes By sticking labels over the address you can reuse envelopes. Alternatively, old envelopes can be used as scrap paper to make notes on. |
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| Jars and pots. By cleaning glass jars and small pots, you can use them as small containers to store odds and ends. |
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| Newspaper, cardboard and bubble wrap Make useful packing material when moving house or to store items. |
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| Old clothes – can be made into other textile items such as cushion covers or teapot cosies. |
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| Packaging Such as foil and egg cartons can be donated to schools and nurseries, where they can be use in art and craft projects. |
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| Scrap paper Can be used to make notes and sketches. Don’t forget to recycle it when you no longer need it. |
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| Tyres Old tyres can be given to your local petrol station where they will be recycled. Or you could make a tyre-swing by tying a strong rope around a tyre and attaching it to a tree. |
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| Used wood Can be used in woodcrafts for making objects such as a spice rack or a bird table. Alternatively it could be used as firewood. |
Useful Tips
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| Old Electrical Equipment Donate old electrical equipment to schools or community centers so that others can reuse them. |
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| Donate Old Clothes and Books Other people can reuse your unwanted clothes and books when you donate them to charity shops. |
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| Car-boot Sale Have a car-boot sale and get rid of some unwanted items. Other people may find a use for them, plus it gives you the opportunity to earn some extra cash. |
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| Rechargeable Batteries Rechargeable batteries can be reused many times before they need throwing away, opposed to regular batteries that create unnecessary waste. |
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| Build a Compost Bin You can reuse many waste items, such as eggshells and old tea bags, using a compost bin. This waste then degrades and turns into compost that can be used to help your garden grow. |
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| Grass Cycling After mowing your lawn, instead of throwing the grass cuttings away, leave them in your garden. The nutrients from the cuttings go back into the soil and act as a fertiliser. |
What To Buy and How To Use It
Waste reduction starts at the supermarket. By making slight alterations to your shopping list you can significantly reduce the amount of waste created in and around the home.
Buy only what you need
Reduce unnecessary waste by avoiding those pointless purchases. Items that rarely get used can be borrowed or shared with others.
Buy products that can be reused
Buy bottles instead of cans and rechargeable batteries. Items such as this create very little waste, as they don’t have to be thrown away after they have been used just once.
Buy all-purpose household cleaner
Instead of buying many different ones for each cleaning role.
Buy products with little packaging
So that less packaging ends up in your rubbish bin. For those items you use regularly, buy them in bulk instead of in smaller amounts. This will save you money as well as reduce waste.
Sell or give away unwanted items Reduce waste by donating unwanted items to family, friends or neighbours. You could even sell your possessions in a car-boot sale and earn some extra cash.
Reduce paper waste by cancelling unwanted mail You can unsubscribe to many national mailing lists by contacting the Direct Marketing Association:
Reducing Hazardous Waste
Many hazardous products cannot be recycled as they contain harmful chemicals. However, there are ways of reducing waste by dealing with hazardous products in the correct manor.
Buy non-toxic products whenever possible
Many toxic products such as motor oil and pesticides cannot be reused.
Recycle motor products
Such as break fluid, oils and tyres by taking them to your local petrol station. By recycling these products instead of throwing them away, you are reducing hazardous waste.
Use all of the toxic product, such as furniture polish, so there is no hazardous material left in the container when it is discarded.
Find safer alternatives to hazardous household products.
You can even make your own household cleaners using products such as baking soda and vinegar. Olive oil with lemon juice is a good alternative to furniture polish and using scented candles are a good alternative to air fresheners.
Think Before You Throw
Many of the items that you would normally consider as rubbish could be used for other purposes. So instead of throwing items away, reduce waste by using them for other roles.
Paper and Envelopes
Can be used as scrap paper for making notes.
Cardboard, Newspaper and Bubble Wrap
Can be used as packing materials. Packaging products, such as foil and egg cartons, can be used for art projects in schools and nurseries.
Jars and Pots
Can be used as small containers to store odds and ends.
Plastic and Paper Bags
Can be reused in the shops, used as bin bags around the house or as wrapping paper.
Used wood
Can be used in woodcrafts for making small garden objects such as bird tables. Alternatively it could be used as firewood.
Household Recycling
Recycling in and around the home can be easy when you know how. By thinking carefully about what products you buy at the supermarket and how to recycle them is the first step towards efficient recycling.
Find ways of recycling different materials
Many materials can be recycled, such as paper, plastic, metal and glass. Other items such as furniture, electronic equipment, building material and vehicles can also be recycled but many people don’t often think to do so.
Buy products that can be recycled.
When shopping at the supermarket, buy products that can be recycled easily such as glass jars and tin cans.
Buy products that have been made from recycled material.
You can tell if a product is eco-friendly by looking at the label on the packaging.
Avoiding buying hazardous material.
It is difficult to recycle products that contain hazardous waste. Try to find safer alternatives to household cleaners and buy non-toxic products whenever possible.
Recycle bins.
Make sure you have a recycle bin in your home. Keep it in an obvious place so you won’t forget to use it. Your local council should be able to provide you with a recycle bin that can be used for materials such as glass, paper, aluminium and plastic.
Recycling In The Garden
By recycling garden products and planting trees, you can help improve the environment in your back garden.
Composting
Composting is a process where waste degrades into compost, which can then be used in your garden to help it grow. It is an excellent way to recycle garden and kitchen waste such as plant trimmings and leftover food.
Grass cycling
Grass cycling is an excellent way of recycling grass cuttings after mowing the lawn. Simply leave the cuttings on the ground instead of throwing them away, they will turn into nutrients and act as a fertiliser in the soil.
Planting trees
Planting trees in your garden helps to improve the environment by reducing global warming and providing a home for many animals.
Recycling In The Community
Local recycling facilities
Facilities are provided for community use. Find out where your local recycling facilities are and how to use them.
Schools and businesses
Can play an important role in recycling. Follow the recycling schemes provided by your school or workplace and think about ways to improve them.
Community projects
Become involved in local community projects regarding recycling by donating money or providing and implementing new ideas.
Cash for cans
This project gives money to people who recycle their aluminium cans. There are more than 500 cash for cans sites around the UK, so get involved and earn a bit of extra cash in the process.
found some recycling slogans might use them for the stamp:
I think I finally decided to go with the creative side of reusing old stuff. Simple things can make a difference. I want to experiment with light bulbs. I think, everyone has them and it would be nice to use them in many different ways.
BE CREATIVE AND REUSE.
The incandescent light bulb, incandescent lamp or incandescent light globe produces light by heating a filament wire to a high temperature until it glows. The hot filament is protected from oxidation in the air with a glass enclosure that is filled with inert gas or evacuated. In a halogen lamp, filament evaporation is prevented by a chemical process that redeposits metal vapor onto the filament, extending its life. The light bulb is supplied with electrical current by feed-through terminals or wires embedded in the glass. Most bulbs are used in a socket which provides mechanical support and electrical connections.
nefficient light bulbs are being phased out over the next few years - helping everyone spend less on electricity.
Inefficient light bulbs are disappearing from UK shops - they're all being replaced by energy-saving light bulbs. Energy-saving light bulbs are compact, bright and available in a wide range of shapes - so the only difference you'll notice is a drop in your electricity bills.
