It’s the most wonderful time of the year and Canada Post’s highly anticipated Holiday stamp has arrived! Tim Zeltner was selected to work his folk-art magic alongside Jocelyn Saulnier from Joce Creative, to design a timeless series of collection-worthy stamps. Featuring three distinct and unique regions in Canada, the seamless horizon navigates through a cross-country wintery wonderland. Traveling from perilous mountain peaks to whimsical lighthouses, Tim enchants and enthrals like never before.
Read MoreGary Alphonso for Canada Post: Unveiling New Community Mailboxes
In response to the shrinking demand for snail mail, Canada Post has begun to phase in an expansion of it's Community Mailboxes (CMB's) vs door-to-door delivery. The process of developing the CMB's was carefully executed with a strategy that involved lots of consumer input through focus testing at various stages in the development. Canada Post was looking for the perfect CMB to take it's customers into the 21st Century. One of the key criteria for the new CMB's was to develop an art wrap that would hopefully work as an anti-graffiti barrier. This is where the call for Gary Alphonso's illustration talents came in.
Working with the team at Ove Brand | Design, headed up by creative director Peter Baker, Gary Alphonso was given an open creative brief as they embarked on an exploration of various abstract directions. The art evolved into a beautiful ethereal design that incorporated the maple leaf (a ubiquitous Canadian symbol), floating as if being carried by a gentle wind. The process was a real contest but in the end, we are proud to report that Gary Alphonso's floating leaf design was among the most popular in focus testing.
Gary Alphonso's illustration applied as a wrap to the mailboxes.
Here are some pics of the mailboxes in communities across the country.
View Gary Alphonso's entire portfolio here!
Monika Melnychuk for Canada Post: Adopt-A-Pet Campaign
We are excited to unveil this special postage stamp series created by Monika Melnychuk for Canada Post. Monika's whimsical line art style serves this playful concept, which features photography of actual homeless pets, in environments that could become reality--if only they are adopted. A brilliant example where the concept is the message! The would-be homes for these pets, are left up to the viewer to fill in, by adopting a pet!
Working with Vancouver based design firm, Subplot, Monika illustrated the collectable Souvenir Sheet, Official First Day Cover, as well as the Five Collectable Stamps for Canada Post's Adopt-A-Pet campaign.
It's great to see Canada Post using their currency to help bring awareness to such an important cause. In 2010, close to 150,000 homeless pets were admitted to shelters across Canada. Partnering with the CFHS, Canada Post wanted to create awareness around the need for animal lovers to adopt from their local Humane Society or SPCA, and give homes to animals who so desperately need them. As of today, April 22 2013, the full package below can be purchased through Canada Post--the collectable Souvenir Sheet Official First Day Cover, complete with all five Canadian stamps.
CdaPost_Adoption_stamp_©MonikaMelnychuk_i2iart
Project Director: Danielle Trottier, Canada Post.
Designer, Ross Chandler, of Subplot.
Creative Directors: Roy White and Matthew Clark of Subplot Inc.
Photography by: Raeff Miles (cages) and Raina + Wilson (animals).
Janice Kun illustrates For Canada Post
Janice Kun collaborated with Karen Smith to showcase the history of mail delivery in Canada. In her usual collage style, Janice combined hand drawn and painted elements with her usual sensitivity to demonstrate the use of the dog sled and Ponchon -- two key historical methods of mail delivery in Canada. Visit Canada Post for more information.
Leap into the Lunar New Year with stamps illustrated by Tracy Walker
Canada Post has released the next in their popular Lunar New Year stamp series. Tracy Walker illustrated this elegant rabbit to celebrate the Chinese year of the metal rabbit. Embossed foil stamping was used on the stamps as a reference to the "metal" element of this Year of the Rabbit. For more information about the stamp and the traits of the Year of the Rabbit, pick up a free copy of Details magazine from Canada Post. This year should feel more peaceful than the previous Year of the Tiger. The Year of the Rabbit will begin February 3, 2011, but these stamps might sell out before then - so hop on down to the post office today!
Design by Paul Haslip and Lauren Rand of HM&E Design Communications.
