INSPIRATION Visual and theory
The visual inspiration for this project comes from several people, each having it’s own modern and fresh style; they each proved to have a very bold approach to design and a very developed sense of balance, composition and aesthetics. The theoretical inspiration comes from two situations that happened in the UK which manifested a similar kind of principle in providing small businesses with low cost shop front upgrades.
CHRIS DO Chris Do is an Emmy award winning director, designer, strategist and educator. He’s the Chief Strategist and CEO of Blind, executive producer of The Skool, and the Founder of The Futur— an online education platform that teaches the business of design to creative thinkers.
JANINE BETH SALAZAR Jannie Beth Salazar is a young and talented web designer with an edgy and fresh style.
KISSMIKLOS Kissmiklos is a graphic designer with a very creative side and the habbit of creating new relationships between the letters of his logos.
LEYTON HIGH ROAD
In 2012, just before the Olympics, Leyton High Road was included in a half a million pound program to revive business in the Leyton area before the Olympic torch relay was going to be held on that road. Each shop, restaurant and cafe were repainted and rebranded, when it was the case, in order to make the street more welcoming to tourists. The neon or plastic signs were replaced with beautifully designed calligraphy or with metal lettering.
BARROW BY DESIGN This Barrow-by-Design pilot project saw Art Gene Associates work collaboratively with Barrow Borough Council to produce low cost shop front upgrades through a grant scheme for small traders. The design strategy appropriate to Barrow Borough Councils agenda aimed to raise the quality of the environment, encouraging emotional and economic investment in the high street and town centre environs. Design consultation with each individual proprietor led to the generation of concept designs which responded to the uniqueness of each business; with the aim of increasing their economic potential and enhancing the wider streetscape. These were later modiďŹ ed to suit the available budget. The aim was to seed a higher aspiration and conďŹ dence amongst the small-traders community and their clientele, ultimately contributing to the sustainability of the local economy.
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