Jims Place, a huge resource of historical imagery

http://excoboard.com/jimsplace/134958

Stumbled across this website and found lots of useful information and photos of Aberdeen. 

Mary Portas independent review into future of high streets

Image from Mary Portas website

http://www.maryportas.com/news/2011/12/12/the-portas-review/

Mary Portas has appeared in the media a lot over saving the high street and her ideas to do this. She has also had television programs highlighting the issues of the high street. Having had a quick look through her review it contains lots of useful information and statistics that I could use in my project.

Really like the illustrations on Mary Portas website, they have a nice energetic vibe. That's how the high streets should be!

The changing British high street

Searching Google for some information on the British high street I found this animation created by someone also studying Graphic Design. The animation is simply a scrolling high street showing an evolution from the old independent shops, to the big brands taking over. For example taking a classy looking fashion outlet called 'Tailor' and replacing it with 'Primark' as the animation scrolls by.

This is a very clever idea. It's simple but visually illustrates the change that most if not all of Britain's high streets are facing. It fits in nicely with what my project is looking at and could be quite good inspiration into my own project development.

Some iconic names...

A long afternoon in Aberdeen's central library proved useful, throwing up lots of interesting imagery of a historic Aberdeen high street. Here are a couple examples and some thoughts.

Woolworth at its 1979 Union Street home

Located where Primark currently is on Union Street, an old household name that in 2008/9 succumbed to its debts and went into administration closing all of its 800+ high street shops. 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7811187.stm - BBC news article on closure.

Woolworths was a place to pick up bargains. In its later years it faced stiff competition from pound shops and supermarkets who began to offer the same kind of items so really lost its place in the market. 

However the name Woolworths has been "re-born" over the Internet. The name was purchased and turned into an Internet shop (http://www.woolworths.co.uk). I have to admit I only discovered this myself whilst doing some background research into Woolworths. Having a browse around the website it is in a very competitive marketplace with Amazon and even eBay. The most interesting aspect though is that someone decided the brand itself was worth purchasing and turning into an online shop, nostalgia? As an Internet brand I think people are more likely to google Amazon or eBay over Woolworths.

My fond memories of Woolies was the cheap pick n' mix which they are offering online.

Bruce Miller & Co in George Street 1900-1984

Moving to Union Street in 1984 where it would remain until its closure in 2011 after 100 years in business. (http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/2293917)

Bruce Millers was a very iconic, local independent business situated in Aberdeen. It's a great shame that a company with such local heritage has closed its doors for good. Independent shops offer a welcoming change from the super brands that are all very much in uniform nationally.

I would like to try get in touch with people who worked at Bruce Millers, especially the owners. This could prove fruitful in providing information of how trading over the years has changed and allow me to look at how graphic design has influenced a change in consumerism. Does good design and strong brands create enough desire that the high street is no longer required? 

Ghost town...

The high street has been coming under increasing pressure from retail parks, shopping centres and the biggest of all, the Internet. With the rescission many high street names are closing their doors, but some have changed the way they operate. Some have headed down a root of Internet trading.

Esslemont & Macintosh was once a massive department store on Union Street in Aberdeen, closing its doors 5 May 2007. Ever since closing, leaving a huge store in Aberdeen boarded up. In the last couple of years many more retailers forced to follow the same path.

The purpose of this project is to look at how graphic design has been used by retailers and brands and how this has changed over the years to influence a change in consumerism. Looking at the influence of technology.