Getting a letter in the mail feels special. And every piece of mail needs a postage stamp. The United States Postal Service (USPS) makes stamps. Derry Noyes is an art director there. She designs stamps. Read about her job in this interview.
Mail time! Use a stamp when sending a letter. Which stamp is your favorite?
THE GOOD BRIGADE/GETTY IMAGESHow did you get started?
I was asked to be a member of the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee. This committee decides on the subjects for stamps each year. I did that for two years. Then I graduated to being a designer of stamps. That was in the 1980s.
Derry Noyes is an art director for the USPS.
COURTESY USPSHow did your education and experience prepare you?
I got a degree in graphic design. Then I worked in a design firm before starting my own business. My training served me well. I designed books, posters, and exhibits. Designing small, for postage stamps, requires a different mindset. But the principles of good design are the same.
Where do you get ideas for stamp collections?
The public can make suggestions. Art directors receive the assignments. We try our very best to make them into stamps.
Why are stamps important?
They tell the American story. They recognize people, places, and events. These tiny pieces of paper carry a lot of weight!
What stamps are you most proud of designing?
There are many. It has been such a delightful job.
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