Bob Marley Postage Stamps
CHALLENGE
My task was to create a limited edition United States Postage Stamp of a famous icon. It was difficult portraying Bob Marley in a way where he hasn’t been already. Everyone knows who Bob Marley is and what he’s associated with. Instead of focusing primarily on his music and habits, I wanted to focus on his persevering strive for peace.
CONCEPT
As a cultural symbol, Bob Marley has instilled hope into millions; There’s no understating his status as an icon. These stamps act as a reminder of his potent message.
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Marley loved using repetition to emphasize his message. Like his music, these stamps contain limited “verses” but still convey a powerful message. It goes: Irie, Marley, Irie, Marley; 1,2,1,2. Another display of this is the repeating silhouette of Jamaica forming the iconic line designs of the 1970’s, the time-period in which Marley emerged.
The intertwining elements resemble the poverty, gang violence, and corrupt government officials that constantly surrounded Marley’s life but the words “everything is alright” and “Irie (Jamaican word for ‘everything is alright’)” still shine brightly through all the corruption.
The map of Kingston, Jamaica visually and physically symbolizes Marley’s will to always returned back to his beliefs and his roots in Jamaica. Hope Road (the street he lived on) runs through his name just like how his music runs through people needing hope.
A deep olive green is used as the primary color to represent a signature symbol of peace: the olive branch. Kabel was the typeface used and was derived from his “Smile Jamaica” peace concert posters. He performed for free at Smile Jamaica even after being shot in his own home two days prior to the concert.
