Stamp & Score — Kaitlyn Ellington Portfolio

Stamp n’ Score

2025

Stamp n’ Score is a stamp rally campaign designed to inspire exploration of Seattle during the 2026 World Cup, where the city is expected to host an influx of visitors across six games. The campaign invites both tourist and locals to discover the city in a playful, engaging way.

Role

Visual Systems, Print Design

Tools

Figma, etc, etc.

Team

Lia Chon, Dasha Orlov

Duration

10 weeks

Why a Stamp Rally?

Research + Concept Development

Stamp n’ Score was developed in a graduate studio course grounded in systems thinking. Our process began with a close look at how Seattle is currently preparing for the World Cup, which we mapped through systems diagrams. We began with rough sketches, gradually polishing our information with research.

Iterative Inquiry

Actors Map

Process Diagram

Research: Systems Mapping
We decided to further refine three key diagrams: Iterative Inquiry, Actors Map, and Process Diagram. These maps helped us identify the key relationships and tensions within the Seattle World Cup ecosystem, which ultimately shaped the direction of our design.

Upon discovering the instrumental role transportation will take in Seattle’s plans for the World Cup, we took visual and conceptual inspiration from Japanese train stamp rallies as a way to connect the city to the people (both tourists and locals).

We took visual and conceptual inspiration from Japanese train stamp rallies.

Process

Physical + Digital Prototyping

Our process involved iterative digital and physical prototyping, including multiple rounds of test prints and explorations of layout and typographic formats. Throughout our process, we kept in mind tangible prototyping with physical print tests and stamp tests.

My stamp sheets sketches, playing with soccer field & map inspo

Prototyping: testing size & stamp placements

My early stamp sketches

Stamp prototyping with laser cutter

My poster layout + type explorations

Our Final System

Concept Development

Our final visual system of typography, iconography, and stamps strikes a balance between the playful, lighthearted spirit of a stamp rally and the established identity of Seattle & Sound Transit branding.

Stamp n’ Score: Live

Concept Development

Stamp n’ Score was presented at a graduate studio design exhibition at the University of Washington. In this project, we proposes the concept: What if the World Cup event was a doorway into our city of Seattle?

I formatted a report documenting our work and process.

My team! (I’m on the far left!)

Final Thoughts

Stamp n’ Score was a wonderful opportunity to explore systems thinking, branding, print design, and exhibition design! I loved having the chance to work with physical deliverables, and it was incredibly satisfying to create artifacts that felt like they could live outside of our project world.

As a possible next step, this concept could be expanded to other cities in the World Cup, especially if tourists plan to travel to see multiple games. This could allow for a wide breadth of design opportunity and exploration, and I would be interested in seeing how a concept like this would change per location.

A special thank you to the visitors and classmates that attended the exhibition; our instructor & advisor Chad Hall; and my wonderful teammates!