1776 Declaration of Independence Commemorative Stamp .

Commissioned by the United States Postal Service to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the brief centered on a deceptively simple requirement: incorporate the numerals 1776 into a contemporary stamp design.

The project explored two distinct conceptual directions, each rooted in a different moment of American history.

The first drew inspiration from the Francis Hopkinson flag, concealing the numerals within its folds as the typography gradually took shape along the contours of the fabric. The design invited discovery, asking the viewer to spend time with the image before revealing the date embedded within it.

The second shifted attention from the symbol of the nation to the act that created it. The numerals were transformed into forms inspired by the goose quill pens used to sign the Declaration of Independence, allowing typography and historical reference to become one and the same. Rather than illustrating the document itself, the design pays homage to the signatures that gave it life.

At postage stamp scale, every element must communicate with clarity. While both concepts answered the brief, the goose quill direction proved more immediate and legible at size, allowing the date to remain instantly recognizable without sacrificing conceptual depth. That direction ultimately became the final commemorative stamp.