Abstract:
The Philatelic Bureau, affiliated with the Postal Department of Sri Lanka, issues
around 30 million stamps annually. Postage stamps are a type of official document which reflect a
country’s values to the world. At the same time, philately has become an exciting hobby, and
there are an estimated 20 million+ collectors worldwide. Postage stamps allow one to learn about
the world’s social, political, and cultural situations. On the contrary, collecting stamps in Sri Lanka
is limited to a segment of collectors, mainly of older generations. From the qualitative research
conducted with the process, most of the younger generation doesn’t have any interest in stamp
collecting and doesn’t have any idea about collecting stamps as a hobby. The younger
generations are most likely to have an interest in using digital products and digital engagements
in their daily work. Even when searching for information about stamps Etc. Considering the value
that the collector market has given to postage stamps, and the potential of postage stamps as
revenue raisers, the Philatelic Bureau focuses on further promoting stamp collecting as a hobby
in Sri Lanka. Addressing this need, this research project aims at elevating the hobby of stamp
collecting in Sri Lanka, through the creative application of the concept of visual reading among
students. Here, the users can create their own digital stories and stamp designs while exercising
their creativity. A digital platform was developed to sustain the stamp’s visual designs and
narratives. The narratives can be presented in audio and video formats, as the users prefer.
Furthermore, the work can be shared within the community, and rewards can be collected from
the philatelic bureau of Sri Lanka, ensuring long-term engagement with the platform. This output
of the research project fulfills a timely need to elevate the conventional hobby of stamp collecting
to a new level in a meaningful and innovative manner.
