Kathi Sylva figures a design is worth a thousand words.

Especially on a stamp. But how do you fit a powerful message on a tiny piece of glue-backed paper?

You might be surprised. Last fall Sylva's Design 152A class, Visual Communication: Graphic Design Production, embarked on an ambitious project - to commemorate America in the wake of the Sept. 11 tragedy. Their medium: full-color postage stamps. Their goal: make art to better understand a terrible event.

The final products were due November 13 - barely two months after the deadly attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

With emotions in flux across the county, Sylva's class was tackling a tough issue at the hardest time. With no luxury for historical hindsight, the challenge was trying to understand Sept. 11 through the visual medium and the use of the stamp form as expression. And, a strong desire existed to do justice to those who died or risked their lives.

"We talked about what was important in this experience and how people came together to help one another," said Sylva, a professor of design in the Department of Environmental Design.

The only specifications were that the stamp must include "September 11th" or "Sept. 11, 2001" and the price of postage, "USA 34." In designing the postal 20-stamp page - known as a quilt - students had options. They could include other text, just have 20 identical stamps, or they may do several designs. But, regardless, the size students had to work with made simplicity important.

"We stressed legibility - for obvious reasons - and a positive approach to the issue," said Sylva.

Plus creativity. If a student chose the oft-used flag symbol, why not take a new perspective on it? Try a variation on the theme, in other words. The Design 152A class seemed the perfect place to explore September 11th in a different way. The class syllabus talks about understanding "symbolism" and "representation" as essential components to the development of effective logos and "identity systems." Stamps are a suitable identity system for the millions of Americans who traffic in postage - just about all of us. And, stamp collecting is a big business.

Commerce aside, Sylva focused her students on how art can make sense of real world events.

"Our objective is to educate our students within a socially and environmentally responsible context, encouraging them to become creative designers who understand the social context of their day and age," she said.

Jacqueline Kang, a design senior, said, "Instead of making a political issue about the stamp, I wanted to make it a tribute to the lives lost on that day without making a contentious statement - to simply remember that it did happen and it was a tragedy."

"The stamp project was very timely and appropriate," said Cathy Forbes, also a senior in design. "Once students enter the "real" world as designers they will be expected to produce designs within many facets of society - print, television spots, direct mail - that reflect current events."

Prior to Sylva's class, Forbes observed, the only stamp that had been published on the events of Sept. 11 was one a waving flag with the words "United We Stand." Shortly thereafter a commemorative stamp featuring Lady Liberty was released - much like Forbes' rendition.

Sylva is considering submitting some of the designs to the U.S. Postal Office. Stamp gurus in Washington, D.C., might find a nugget of gold among them, and then all the world's a stage for that stamp.

Sylva would not be surprised. "We're attracting students who wish to involve themselves in the challenge of constructing the future shape and quality of our everyday lives."

Clifton Parker is a senior writer for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.