We're Open
To celebrate the gradual re-opening of the high street, American Express commissioned five leading young artists based in the UK, to create a limited edition series of "We're Open" signs.
The humble open sign is something most of us took for granted until March this year, and its absence from our high street ever since has been keenly felt by local communities. As stores begin to get back to business, the open sign is set to become a proud talisman for shopkeepers to show they are ready to safely welcome customers in store once again.
The artists involved have transformed the traditional shop sign into a striking symbol for business owners to place in their shop windows, letting customers know their doors are open for business once more. Shopkeepers from around the UK that want to let customers know they have re-opened their doors can download their favourite open sign, by clicking on the ‘download button’ below.
We hope that these signs will brighten the doors of businesses as they welcome customers back with a smile.
Charlotte Posner
Artwork name: Together We Open
Creative process: Small businesses are at the very heart of our local communities, somewhere that has been so incredibly important during recent times. When curating my piece, it was really important that the small business owners and shopkeepers were at the forefront of my design - as they will soon be welcoming customers into their stores once again. Diversity and inclusivity is extremely important to me and I wanted to ensure that it was portrayed in the piece that I produced, as it's the diverse cultures and shops that make visiting your local high street such a wonderful experience.
Bio: Charlotte Posner is a London-based artist known for her vibrant, hand painted pop-dolls inspired by people, places and popular culture from all over the world. Charlotte studied Fine Art at the University of the Arts London. In 2014 she received her first Royal Acadmey placement as part of the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and was profiled on the BBC TV Culture Show. Driven by a passionate need to create art as expression, Charlotte's signature art style is distinguishable by its expression of shape and form, colour and confidence.
Oli Frape
Artwork name: Ready to go!
Creative process: An open sign is one of those vernacular objects that just exists. We've seen them throughout our lives and they've probably been used as long as shops and businesses have had premises to open and customers to serve. With that in mind I wanted to celebrate the re-opening of local businesses after such a difficult time here in the UK, by using bold, direct and colourful hand-drawn typography. My sign has a nod to the 50s American shop signs of the past combined with my contemporary letterforms to create something direct and striking. The message is clear - we're open for business!
Bio: Oli Frape is a hand-lettering artist based in Sheffield who creates engaging, informal and conversational typographic works. Oli studied Metalwork and Jewellery Design at Sheffield Hallam University. Since graduating in 2003, Oli has hosted workshops at Tate Britain and V&A in London. His work utilises a wide range of hand-made typographic treatments that he has developed over time allowing him to express words in interesting ways.
Rose Blake
Artwork name: Suns up, Birds Sing, Trees
Creative process: I wanted to make a drawing about some of the things that have helped me cope during the lockdown, as our small shops prepare to come out of it. Thank goodness nature never closes!
Bio: Rose Blake is a London-based illustrator well-known for her ability to capture the essence of everyday life. She studied illustration and Animation at Kingston University and later Communication Art and Design at the Royal College of Art. Since then, she has been awarded the D&AD Best New Blood Award in 2009 and was recently shortlisted for the AOI prize and The World Illustration Awards.
Timothy Hunt
Artwork name: Eye Heart Shopping
Creative process: My creative process involved a lot of sketching/doodling and just seeing what stuck, and what stood out. I really wanted to evoke the sense of having missed shopping so much and a sort of disbelief that it could actually be back, like a reunion with something we didn't realise how much we'd miss until it was gone - peeking through a shop window as you do, is it open? Yes!
Bio: Timothy Hunt graduated from The University of Hull in 2007 with a Bachelor's Degree in Art & Design. Based in London he creates commercial digital illustrations, conveying messages and concepts using simple shapes and bold colours.
Yukai Du
Artwork name: Back to Open
Creative process: The hand-painted unique sign is created for the irreplaceable uniqueness of all small businesses. The vibrant acrylic colours and different shapes represent the reopening of small businesses, which - will bring back the colour and fun to our locals and communities.
Bio: Yukai Du is a UK-based illustrator and animator. She studied Book Illustration and Design at Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts before moving to London to study at Central Saint Martins. Yukai has received a number of international awards such as 3X3 Illustration Best of Show (Student Show), Adobe Design Award Honourable Mention and a D&AD New Blood Wood Pencil. Yukai is known for her bold colours and graphic prints that bring to life the world around us.
