Project overview
Dee Chainey-Jones acted as a folklore, myths and legends consultant, working alongside a fellow consultant, the designer and the Royal Mail team. Her role involved advising on topics, depictions and accuracy across the stamp issue and handstamp project. She also provided copy text for both the Presentation Pack and the First Day Cover packaging materials.
Project aims
The project had two key objectives:
- Create a coherent stamp issue: To develop a visually striking and thematically consistent set of eight stamps depicting iconic scenes and characters from British folklore, myths and legends.
- Design a handstamp: To create a complementary handstamp to cancel the stamps on the First Day Cover, enhancing the authenticity and collectability of the set.
Solutions provided
Dee’s contributions ensured the project reflected the rich diversity and authenticity of British folklore while aligning with Royal Mail’s brand goals and audience expectations. Her specific solutions included:
- Curatorial expertise: Recommending well-known mythological creatures and legendary figures from across the UK to ensure a representative and compelling selection.
- Cultural and regional balance: Advising on the inclusion of a diverse range of folklore to reflect regional identities and cultural traditions, ensuring balanced representation.
- Accuracy and authenticity: Providing detailed guidance on the historical and cultural accuracy of the depictions, including references to historical texts, period architecture, dress and technologies.
- Creative direction: Consulting on the visual portrayal of characters and themes, ensuring they aligned with the project's creative vision and resonated with contemporary audiences.
Challenges addressed
Throughout the project, Dee navigated several key challenges to help deliver a historically grounded yet visually engaging stamp series:
- Meta-narrative scope: Defining the scale and approach of the overarching narrative — balancing regional versus national stories — to create a collection that felt both cohesive and representative.
- Cultural representation: Ensuring that regional and national narratives were depicted responsibly, accounting for contemporary cultural perceptions and opinions.
- Folklore 'accuracy': Establishing a benchmark for accuracy, given that folklore is shaped by evolving oral traditions and shifting interpretations over centuries.
- Institutional reputation: Upholding Royal Mail’s reputation by ensuring that the narrative approach was both culturally sensitive and historically informed.
Project role
Dee Chainey-Jones provided expertise in the following capacities:
- Folklore, myths and legends consultant: Offering specialist knowledge to shape the selection, accuracy and representation of the featured folklore.
- Narrative designer: Ensuring the collection presented a coherent and compelling story of UK folklore.
- Copywriter: Producing clear, engaging and accurate copy for the Presentation Pack and First Day Cover packaging materials.
