Go For Broke! Japanese American Soldiers of WWII

The “Go for Broke: Japanese American Soldiers of WWII” stamp we designed was issued last week by the USPS. The image is based on a photo from 1944 of a member if the 442nd Regimental Combat Team taken in France. Although many Japanese-Americans faced discrimination in the US, including being confined to domestic concentration camps, 33,000 others served in the army. The 442nd was one of the most distinguished American fighting units of WWII. Their heroism is notable.

We were honored to design this important stamp, and touched by all the notes and messages from members of the Japanese-American community telling us how much this recognition means.

A stamp featuring a Japanese soldier of the 442nd Go For Broke regiment from WWII

NMWA releases the Sonya Clark exhibition catalogue

Last week, the National Museum of Women in the Arts opened an exhibition of art by Sonya Clark. It’s the first survey show in Clark’s 25-year career, and features mixed-media works that address race and visibility, explore Blackness, and redress history. Studio A had the honor of designing the exhibition catalogue, and we look forward to seeing the art in person soon. Moving and meaningful, “Sonya Clark: Tatter, Bristle, and Mend” is on exhibit until May 31.

Cover of Sonya Clark: Tatter, Bristle, and Mend

Opener for Sonya Clark: Tatter, Bristle, and Mend

Opener for Sonya Clark: Tatter, Bristle, and Mend

Title Page for Sonya Clark: Tatter, Bristle, and Mend

Table of Contents for Sonya Clark: Tatter, Bristle, and Mend

Interview Opener for Sonya Clark: Tatter, Bristle, and Mend

Chapter Opener for Sonya Clark: Tatter, Bristle, and Mend

Featured Works Opener for Sonya Clark: Tatter, Bristle, and Mend

Featured Works spread from Sonya Clark: Tatter, Bristle, and Mend

Featured Works spread from Sonya Clark: Tatter, Bristle, and Mend

Stamps: Branding the United States in Communication Arts magazine

People seem to be particularly grateful receiving a personal letter in the mail these days. In turn, stamps seem to be gaining new attention from the design community. This month, Communication Arts magazine published an article on the US stamp program including some nice quotes from Antonio Alcalá and former employee Ricky Altizer. Maybe it will inspire you to send a postcard or note to a friend. We know where you can get some cool stamps! Read the article here.

Earth Day stamp

Stamps featured in Print Magazine

Today Print magazine published a brief article/interview with Bill Gicker, Manager of Stamp Development at USPS. It may be more than you want to know about how postage stamps come to be…but then again, maybe not! We hope you enjoy the read. Read the interview here.

The Snowy Day Stamp

The Year of the Ox stamp released as part of the Lunar New Year series

The second stamp in the USPS’ Lunar New Year stamp series was issued today: The Year of the Ox. The stamp was art directed by Antonio Alcalá and features a mask created by the artist Camille Chew. Available now from the USPS store.

Lunar New Year: Year of the Ox Stamp

The Textile Museum Journal, Volume 47, 2020

We just completed the Textile Museum Journal, Issue 47. Several articles include scientific diagrams and charts recording important data from scholarly research. But what made this issue particularly challenging was ensuring its successful transition into an Accessible PDF (meaning it is accessible to people with disabilities including low-vision and sight-impaired users). We look forward to helping more of our clients make sure their publications can be easily accessed by all!

Cover of the Textile Museum Journal Volume 47 2020 featuring a textile detail motif on a textured background.

Article opener from the Textile Museum Journal Volume 47 2020.

Interior spread from the Textile Museum Journal Volume 47 2020

Interior spread from the Textile Museum Journal Volume 47 2020

Interior spread from the Textile Museum Journal Volume 47 2020 featuring chemical structures.

Interior spread from the Textile Museum Journal Volume 47 2020

Interior spread from the Textile Museum Journal Volume 47 2020 featuring multiple tables.

Interior spread from the Textile Museum Journal Volume 47 2020

Interior spread from the Textile Museum Journal Volume 47 2020 featuring multiple graphs.

Holiday Delights stamps released

Hooray! Our “Holiday Delights” stamps came in the mail today. This was a wonderful, easy, and fun collaboration with the talented and gracious illustrator Kirsten Ulve. We’ll be using these on our holiday cards this year. Will you?

Holiday Delights Stamp: Bear and Ornament

Holiday Delights Stamp: Tree and Reindeer

Stamp designs now on Instagram!

For our blog friends interested in our stamp designs, we recently started posting some of them on the Instagram account: @antoniostudioa. We also post examples of other interesting stamps and “cinderellas” or poster stamps worth seeing (we think). Check it out, and follow us to see more

Studio A stamps now on Instagram @antoniostudioa

Innovation stamps released

First, thank you to everyone who is supporting the USPS (especially those buying stamps)!

Last week, our latest stamp designs were issued celebrating American Innovation. Photographs representing Computing, Biomedicine, Genome Sequencing, Robotics, and Solar Technology are featured with a typographic composition spelling “Innovation” stamped in silver foil on top. They’re perfect to use when mailing in your next patent application!

Innovation stamps

Steven Heller and Print Magazine on stamp design

The USPS seems to be front-page news these days. Mostly, the headlines are for reasons other than their stamp designs. Leave it to Steven Heller and Print Magazine to shine a little light on our work today:https://www.printmag.com/post/a-graphic-designer-s-stamp-collection?fbclid=IwAR39Rrfc5W_z8emIoJlADi5JttZqhXocPSVXDA6_4P1FBXLiaffcbexaHfk. Thank you!

Rest in peace Milton Glaser

Milton Glaser, June 26,1929—June 26, 2020

Modified image of Dylan Poster for the death of Milton Glaser

Steven Heller interviews Antonio Alcala about the Hip Hop stamp release

Print Magazine, and Steven Heller, did a little Q&A with Antonio Alcala about the soon-to-be-issued Hip Hop stamps. So proud of US Postal Service for issuing these. Check it out: https://www.printmag.com/post/hip-hop-forever-first-class

hip hop stamps—mc and dj

hip hop stamps—graffiti and bboy

Cade Martin reaches out to discuss how creatives are weathering the pandemic

The photographer Cade Martin reached out to many of the creative people he’s worked with over the years to find out how they’re doing during this pandemic-clouded time. Antonio was one of his featured profiles, and you can check it out here. We hope you are safe and well!

Antonio Alcala

2019 Print Magazine Regional Design Annual

Many months ago, Antonio Alcala was honored to serve as a judge for Print Magazine’s 2019 Regional Design Annual. Unfortunately, just after the judging was completed the company that owned Print went bankrupt and winners went unrecognized. But new owners have come to the rescue and just announced the winners! Congratulations to all the designers and their colleagues creating this inspiring work.

Use this link below to learn a little about the judges and see the winning designs.

Earth Day stamp

Wednesday is the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day, when millions of people collectively called for better treatment of our planet. Today, USPS issued an Earth Day stamp we designed to commemorate this milestone. The need to work together to help preserve and improve our environment is greater than ever. Celebrate on April 22nd by doing something to help. Plant a tree. Reuse/Recycle. Write a letter to an elected official or business leader to let them know what they can do to help. And have a Happy Earth Day!

Earth Day stamp