The new typeface references market signage unearthed in archives, and you’ll notice informal quirks in the architectural and type design – this is to convey randomness, grassroots creativity, originality, bursts of imagination. Wayfinding assets such as arrows don’t just point one way, but take wiggly and wacky shapes such as stairs or spiky waveforms. Quirky pictograms embody inclusivity through charming geometry, emerging from dialogue between local stakeholders and Croydon School of Art, beginning as collaged cut outs and ending up as flexible graphics across the entire identity. The collaboration brought significant architectural angles to the project, through heritage markets, banners, awnings, street furniture and new gateways, also.
“We met a lot of invested people during the course of this project but the enthusiasm and care of the students at CSA really left its mark on us as a studio. We invited a whole year group under the tutelage of lecturer Levi Goff to play with and road test the visual identity as a kit that could be put together by others,” says Camille Le Flem from Bob. “We went to the school, they came to our studio, we all convened in the market. They produced such brilliant work that we invited seven students afterwards for internships.”