an unexpected art form

If you have ever visited Great Britain, you know that pubs are much more than just bars. And you also know that part of what makes them so special are the wonderful signs that advertise them. I was listening to a program on The World (public radio) yesterday afternoon about the dire situation many pubs are facing these days and how many of them are closing. The report in itself was interesting but what caught my interest was the mention that the artists, who create the beautiful signs, are also in a difficult situation. Look at the link below to find out more about pub signs, their history and some of their designs. I think some of them are so beautiful and, to me, a reminder of life many, many centuries ago when every profession was advertised in such a way. http://www.innsignsociety.com/

(Image featured on the Inn Sign Society website)

We are more than ever surrounded by signs of all kinds. However, I think the emphasis and goals of many of these signs have changed: color and design psychology as well as marketing tools have taken over and the beauty of the sign or the illustration of the name have become secondary. I guess in a world where everything goes fast, signs have to be reduced to a logo or a specific color to be instantaneously recognizable. Who has time any more to look at all the details of such sign as the one on a pub? What a shame!