Stampness of a stamp Stamp collection,Initial experiment:Linguistic hedges,Typicality test,Feedback and analysis,Cropped Images test,Feedback and analysis,Taxonomies, MoodBoards,Product Statement,Contemporary+ Indian+ Revenue+ StampTowards final designs.

Team MobiusSharmilaRadhikaAniketAditi

What is the stampness of a stamp?

The StampTo find out what is stampness of a stamp, we chose 32 stamps out of Radhika’s collection. They contained stamps from the colonial days till date.

With these stamps we conducted two experiments- Linguistic hedges and typicality test.

People sorted the stamps based on looking at each stamp for a while and based on their prior knowledge. The fol-lowing insights were obtained by interveiwing 20 people:

Very typical Typical Not so typical Not so atypical Atypical

Results of tyicality test and linguistic hedges:

Truly

Technically

Loosely

Cropped stampsOnce insights were obtained regarding stampness of stamp, an experiment was conducted where in cropped stamp im-ages were used.This was done inorder to push the im-ages out of their stamp context and analyze them further. People sorted these images based on parameters such as flavour of image, the colours, texture, elements, printing style and technique. Also they tried to put a context to each image- to what situation would each image fit the best. Follow-ing are the images presented and the results thereafter:

Insights:Perforrated edges is the most easily identified trait of a stamp•Other indicators are presence of denomination, country name •and year.Presence of the post-office circular ink mark is also indicative •of a stamp.Dull, diluted muddy coulours are asscociated with stamps so •also is half tone and relatively cheaper production techniques like monochrome.Themes like national leaders, freedom fighters, socio-political •images are indicative of stamp.The presence of a national emblem, colour muroon and a tex-•ture is indicative of a revenue stamp.Though advancement in technology has thrown up several •possibilities as regards printing etc multi coloured images, high quality photographic images etc are not associated with stamps.

Observations:The younger interviewees tend to look at all stamp images •at once and chunk them into categories, by process of el-emination at times.This might tend to become a bit too random and chaotic.•People tend to begin chunking with the stamps they have •never seen or feel are remotest on stamp radar put them into loosely speaking stamps category and then proceed with further stamps.People recognised stamps as stamps many a time due to •the perforated border and not essentially due to the con-tent.A pattern of stamp classification had emerged based on •replies from various interviewes but the those who collect stamps gave just the opposite feedback. For them rarer and remote the stamp the more likely it is to be remembered and identified.Lot of stamps emerged to be deviants as in they invited •equal contradictory reactions.

TaxonomiesStamp as visual representation

collector’s itemnational identityrevenue generation devicegovernment document

Product Statement: to evolve a Contemporary+ Indian+ Revenue (governmentness)+ Stamp+ design

Contemporary(In India)

Indian Revenue (govternment-ness)

stamp Design

India+ solar energy Traditional artefacts Digits Perforated border Lines

Pink Chaddi campn. Mythologies National emblems Denomination Dots

Gay pride parade Architecture Muroon, Navy blue year Textures

Chandralekha Symbols+ icons Linear textures Monochrome Shapes

2006 floods Jwellery + Bindi Govt. Documents Lines/ textures Colour (& schemes)

Dabbawalaas Tribal Art(efacts) Intaglio printing (govt. documents)

Themes: Personalities, flora-fauna, monuments, socio-culture-politcal

Principals of design

Local trains Embroidery line drawings Depth of field

Terrorism Body Art half tones perspective

Nandigram, singur Festivals + Rituals economy printing Form

Youth % India= 60 Film & media Semiotics

Chandrayaan Rangoli/ aipan

Mumbai sealink Schools of art

Vehicle graphics

Food

Yoga

Flora & Fauna

Performing Arts

National Leaders

Identity: Flag, currency

Typical Moderate(desired member)

Atypical

INDIA

2009

INDIA

2009

Towards the design