Bob Design and Croydon School of Art rebrand 750-year-old Surrey Street Market with collaged pictograms

Bob Design, a graphic design firm led by women, teamed up with students from Croydon School of Art to develop a fresh visual identity for Surrey Street Market, which boasts a rich 750-year history as one of London’s oldest markets. This endeavor is part of a project funded by the Greater London Authority aimed at enhancing green infrastructure, cultural initiatives, and revitalizing vacant spaces. The team delved into the market's varied past, including royal charters and the origins of dubstep, to create a toolkit of colors, shapes, and typeforms. The new typeface draws inspiration from historical market signage, incorporating playful design elements. Pictograms, crafted from discussions with local stakeholders, evolved from collaged cutouts into versatile graphics for various applications. Under the guidance of lecturer Levi Goff, an entire year group participated in testing the identity, leading to seven students receiving internships. The launch featured pop-up printing workshops at the Saturday market, attended by the mayor.