Graphic Design lecturer Huub de Lang designs jubilee stamps for King Willem-Alexander.
- Design
Graphic Design lecturer Huub de Lang, together with Anne Schaufeli from studio026 in Velp, designed the bright orange stamp sheet '10 years of king Willem-Alexander'. For the jubilee stamps, Huub and Anne came up with a design concept that reflects the kingship and personality of the king. "King Willem-Alexander is approachable, open to people, and enjoys making easy and comfortable connections," says Schaufeli. "He is a down-to-earth king, and you can see this in how he carries out his duties."
On April 30, 2023, it will be 10 years since crown prince Willem-Alexander succeeded his mother, queen Beatrix, and became king of the Netherlands. The photos on the jubilee stamps clearly illustrate how the king has fulfilled his public role since then.
Monochromatic orange
The stamp sheet features photos from the King's Games in 2019, work visits to the Netherlands Institute for Ecology in Wageningen in 2022 and to Sint Maarten in 2013, the state visit to Indonesia in 2020, and the Speech from the Throne in 2022. All the photos were originally in color and have been converted to fresh and vibrant orange to unify the images from different photographers.
Quotes and keywords
Huub de Lange and Anne Schaufeli used the keywords "unifying," "encouraging," and "representing" as criteria for selecting characteristic moments from the past 10 years. They chose images that depict the king as he always presents himself: active and engaged. Schaufeli explained, "It is not a representative chronological overview of 10 years of kingship but rather a tribute to how King Willem-Alexander has given meaning to it. And still does."
Embossed printing
The keywords are placed on top of the photos on the stamps in a layered font with a drop shadow. Embossed printing has been applied in the background on the edge of the sheet, a printing technique that uses relief to make parts of the design stand out. Schaufeli said, "All of this enhances the concept. It gives the design stature and a chic appearance while also giving it a modern touch. It's both classic and contemporary, just like the king."
Availability
The stamp sheet '10 years of King Willem-Alexander' consists of 5 stamps with 5 different designs, with the denomination 'Nederland 1,' intended for mail up to 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands. The stamps will be available from April 28, 2023, at Bruna stores and through this webshop. They can also be ordered by phone from the customer service of Collect Club at phone number 088 - 868 99 00. The validity period is indefinite. The price for a sheet with 5 stamps is € 5.05.
Graphic Design
Huub de Lange is a lecturer in the Graphic Design program in Arnhem. The internationally oriented Bachelor Graphic Design Arnhem (GDA) provides a learning environment for students to develop creative skills and critical knowledge to contribute to new insights about, through, and with the help of graphic design.