designer anna dittmer creates collectable passport stamps for fictional worlds

while journeying through japan for the first time in 2015, designer and illustrator anna dittmer was introduced to the nation’s custom of ‘memorial stamps’: colourful stamps collected at places of cultural significance and historic importance. whether it be at a train station or museum, each marking is realized in intricate detail to portray the place it represents. ‘having a piece of paper/notebook at the ready, you use a rubber stamp to take an unique and wonderfully designed keepsake with you’, explains the artist. ‘some places offer multiple stamps in a certain area which makes it a great challenge to ‘gotta find ’em all.’

dittmer first came across the concept of memorial stamps while travelling in japan in 2015
all images courtesy of the artist 

for fans of RPG games, this practice will sound more than a bit familiar; travelling, sometimes for miles out of your way, to find that certain item or achievement that will complete your collection. the similarities weren’t lost on dittmer (a.k.a ribbit knight), who is a great lover of video games herself. growing up in düsseldorf, germany, dittmer had a fondness for japanese games in particular, and the comprehensive and meticulous world building they contained. 

for fans of role playing games, the idea of hunting down an elusive item will seem more than a bit familiar

bringing her two loves together, in 2017 dittmer founded ‘pixel passport’, a passion project that creates stamp designs for iconic locations in fictional worlds. created as part of designer and letterer lauren hom’s workshop ‘passion to paid’, the ongoing project thus far includes stamps from such landmark games as final fantasy, the legend of zelda, super mario, chrono trigger and donkey kong.

whether it be at a train station or museum, each marking is realized in intricate detail

taking her favourite landmarks from each world and distilling them into a simple and charming graphic, dittmer creates an emotive and tactile way of remembering your favourite digital journeys. while you might not want to stamp them into your actual passport, the imprints are still a great way of immortalising those hours we spend exploring fictional lands, whether it’s hyrule, the mushroom kingdom or somewhere in between. 

dittmer creates an emotive and tactile way of remembering your favourite digital journeys

each landmark is distilled into a simple and charming graphic

pixel passport was created as part of designer and letterer lauren hom’s workshop ‘passion to paid’

the ongoing project thus far includes stamps from such iconic games as final fantasy, the legend of zelda…

…super mario, chrono trigger and donkey kong

you might not want to stamp these into your actual passport however

the stamps are a great way of immortalizing those endless hours we’ve spent exploring fictional realms