Designer Ita Kim brings motion and meaning together in her Paralympians stamp series, a striking celebration of four U.S. Paralympic athletes whose achievements redefine strength and individuality. Through her thoughtful approach to narrative and form, Kim captures the relentless drive that propels each athlete beyond limitation—translating their motion, energy, and triumph into a space as compact as a stamp, yet as expansive as their impact.

The Project
What was your project about and what did it aim to achieve?
The Paralympians stamp set is a conceptual design piece that celebrates four notable U.S.
Paralympic athletes who achieved significant milestones at the Paralympic Games over the past decade. With so many athletes representing Team USA, the goal was to showcase each
individual’s unique identity while working within the limited space of a 2.5 x 2.2 cm stamp.

What inspired you or your team?
I spent a lot of time watching the Paralympic athletes’ events and interviews. Since I wanted to
capture each athlete’s individuality, I was interested in their lives outside of their athletic
pursuits. I noticed how each individual relentlessly pursued their goals and it felt like their life
was always in “motion.” That sense of drive led me to structure each stamp’s composition to feel
“dynamic.”
To highlight their Paralympic achievements, I focused especially on the moments when they
won medals or reached significant milestones. I paid close attention to their poses and
movements as they crossed the finish line, and those gestures became the central poses for
each stamp design.

The Process
What was your creative strategy and approach?
My strategy was to ensure that every detail tied back to the overall narrative. I looked for ways
to include themes of the Paralympic Games into unexpected places. For example, the athletes’
sharp limbs and color palette drew inspiration from the Paralympics logo. In the early sketches, I
based their silhouettes on the forms used in Paralympic pictograms. Exploring these
connections between seemingly unlikely details and themes was what pushed me to start
approaching the narrative at different angles.

What were the main challenges and how did you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges was figuring out how to make the most of the small stamp format
without losing clarity or visual impact. I knew I didn’t want to just create static portraits, because
that wouldn’t fully capture the athletes’ achievements and drive. At the same time, focusing only
on their athleticism risked overshadowing their individuality.

I found my breakthrough when I noticed how athlete Tatyana McFadden’s posture while pushing
her racing wheelchair resembled the letter “T.” That observation gave me the idea of blending
each athlete’s initials with their body movements.

The Creative Journey
How did this project reflect or evolve your creative voice?
At the time, I was still discovering my voice as a designer and experimenting with different
approaches to see what fit me best. This project really strengthened my resolve towards
intentionality and storytelling in design. Being deliberate with every design choice forced me to
approach new angles and interpretations so that overall cohesion can take place. Since then,
I’ve carried that mindset into all my work: define the narrative first, and ensure every decision
supports and strengthens that story.

About Ita Kim

Ita Kim is a designer specializing in motion design, illustration, and immersive experiences. With
a background in digital arts, she’s drawn to the simultaneous permanence and impermanence of
digital media. This fascination drives her to explore fresh ideas and perspectives that cut
through the digital noise, aiming to create work that not only captures attention but also
resonates on a deeper, more lasting level.

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