New Dutch Design – making music with cheerfully swinging musicians

The third stamp sheet of the New Dutch Design issue, which will eventually consist of four stamp sheets, focuses on music making. The stamps showcase the work of the future generation of Dutch graphic designers. Second-year Graphic Design students at ArtEZ in Zwolle designed the stamps in collaboration with Nicole Uniquole during the 2023-2024 academic year. New Dutch Design – making music: release day Monday, August 11, 2025 Issue data: design Nicole Uniquole in collaboration with the second-year students Graphic Design at ArtEZ in Zwolle Chantal Idzerda (2003), Jolijn Bos (2002), Lilian Löhrer (2002), Maartje Louwers (1997), Maureen Ketting (2001), Rmoné Western (2001) and Tinka Leeuw (2005), printing of 75.000 stamp sheets, Cartor Security Printers, Meaucé La Loupe in France. Make music The two new stamps of the 3rd issue of 'New Dutch Design', featuring the theme 'Making Music in Color and Form', depict musicians playing various instruments: – 3 stamps stacked vertically on the left with a double bass and tambourine. – 3 stamps stacked vertically on the right with a guitar (seated in a wheelchair), a saxophone, and a drummer (child). * The five-person musical group (two facing left and three facing right) is being observed by a black cat. * All figures are making music while moving, which is indicated by golden-yellow stars (continuous image), but which simultaneously symbolize the volume of the music being produced. This continuous image effect represents the sound of the music, which literally transcends the stamp image but can also be heard from a distance. * The color scheme of the musicians' clothing corresponds to that of the previously issued stamps of this issue. * The five-person musical group (two facing left and three facing right) is being observed by a black cat. All figures make music while moving, which is indicated by golden-yellow stars (continuous across the image), but which simultaneously symbolize the volume of the music produced. This continuous-image effect represents the sound of the music that literally transcends the stamp image, but can also be heard figuratively from a distance. Striking details • Surely a woman in a wheelchair should not be an obstacle to making music? • The ladies' hairstyles range from buns and braids to natural hair. • Variation in the shapes of the musical instruments. • Arab lady with a headscarf (hijab) covering her hair, ears, and neck. • The musicians vary in age from child to adult. • The stars are attractive symbols. They give energy and extra dynamism to the movement. New Dutch Design Quartet 2025 The four New Dutch Design 2025 stamp sheets focus on social activities: * drinking coffee and tea as a ritual: experiencing the environment differently * greeting as a ritual: leaving and meeting * making music as a ritual: swinging musicians * dancing as a ritual: community dancing New Dutch Design – community dancing The stamp sheet 'New Dutch Design – Ritual Dancing' will be released on September 21, 2025. The image of the dance stamp has already been revealed via the 'New Dutch Design 2025 subscription' advertisement. This final stamp sheet in the series differs significantly in style and execution from the three previously issued sheets: • the dancing couples consist of single- and two-color silhouettes. • the five dancing couples per stamp vary in size. • the silhouettes do not wear colored clothing, which could have resulted in an overly busy color spectacle on each stamp. • the stamps are densely 'populated' with ten dancing couples (20 people). • more fluid, free forms compared to the previous stamps. • It is doubtful whether the sense of unity and overall appearance of the four stamps is present. • Unfortunately, homogeneity is lacking.