Francois Joubert gives gift of design to 'Gift of the Givers'

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"I wanted to come up with a concept that would reflect the influence Gift of the Givers has on all those whose lives are severely affected by disasters, natural or not," says Joubert.

As an artist, the first step was to immerse himself in Gift of the Givers to understand the nature and extent of the organisation's involvement in disaster relief.

"After researching a bit, the first image that popped into my mind was a map of the world," says Joubert. "With nature revealing its destructive forces being the main reason for the existence of Gift of the Givers, I decided to use clippings of magazine pictures depicting natural landscapes, which would all come together in the form of a puzzle.

"World is like a puzzle"

"Using a puzzle gave me the basis I needed to express my point of view. To me, the world is like a puzzle. It can be easily jumbled up, but it can always be put back together with a bit of dedicated effort and teamwork," says Joubert.

What Joubert finds most interesting about stamps is the amount of attention to detail used when producing the artwork, coupled with the dynamic range of printing possibilities. This certainly resonated with his inner designer. "Stamps should not be forgotten or replaced by another medium. They are miniature pieces of art and deserve their fair share of attention," he says.

Joubert's idea of good design is something that effectively communicates its message to the viewer without them even realising it. To him, great design will do all of this, but keep the viewer staring at it with a deep emotional interest.

Joubert's goal is to fulfil the role of a renowned designer, primarily working in the field of form and space. "I want to design everyday objects which are durable, practical, plain and precise. I believe that even something as small as an electrical plug should be free from frustration when handled."

Joubert was selected by the SA Post Office as part of its annual drive to inspire young designers and give them a leg-up in their short-lived careers.