BotswanaPost recently hosted a two-day Stamp Design Workshop, whose aim was to bring on board new participants and to develop past attendees skills in philately.
This was the second workshop to be run in Botswana.
The objective of the workshop was to impart knowledge and techniques and key aspects of stamp design as well as to develop and identify local talent. In addition, it was designed to also develop and interest youths in stamp designing as well as to interact with artists and recognize their contribution to the creating of Botswana stamps.
Addressing the participants on behalf of the Director General, BotswanaPost?s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Raffling, emphasized that they wanted to develop local talents and assist them to reach the desired level.
?We want them to work closely with our three high profiled stamp designers, Ann Gollifer, Mosinyi and Bolaane Mazebedi, so as to follow in their foot steps,? he said.
Raffling said that postal stamp design is a graphical design activity applied to postal stamps.
?For it to accomplish its purpose satisfactory, a stamp design includes several elements. Most important is the denomination, indicating its monetary value, while international agreements require a country name in almost all types of stamps,? he explained.
The fundamental purpose of a stamp, he said, is to indicate the prepayment of postage. Since different kinds and sizes of mail normally pay different amounts of postage, he said that the stamps need to carry a value. They should reflect the socio-economic state of Botswana. For instance, after Mpule Kwelagobe won Miss Universe, a commemorative stamp was made for her, he said.
?They (stamps) should promote Botswana by reflecting activities happening in the country because they go across borders, they go internationally.?
BotswanaPost hopes to have a pool of artists who will work with them.
?This will help us know whom to contact when we want stamp designers. We are also planning on having a stamp design competition for 2008, and this workshop will prepare the artists? knowledge and skills which will be needed.?
