Throwbacks worth remembering.
Singapore may only be half a century old but its history goes way back. As a nation which is constantly evolving and changing its landscape, heritage keeps us connected to our past, preserving some form of our humanity and individuality before we all become lifeless robots in a homogeneous global society. Okay, I'm exaggerating here, but you get what I mean."Our SG Heritage Plan is the first master plan for Singapore’s heritage and museum sector which outlines the broad strategies and initiatives for the sector over the next five years (2018 to 2022) and beyond."
-Our SG Heritage
Bubbly Convos
Also interesting to note is the name of the primary font family used for the identity - Quicksand. It could be coincidental that its name fits with the whole objective of the project, but I'd like to see it as a reminder that the experience we have now as Singaporeans would most likely be different from the generations after us, hence the need for this heritage plan as soon as possible.
Make the Colours POP!
The whole aesthetic of Our SG Heritage is made up of flat icons (literal Singapore icons) dripped in a beautiful pop-art colours. The colour palette is amazing, guaranteed to capture your attention wherever you see it.
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| There is a fourth pillar: Our Places, which includes a physical space of heritage value e.g. Jurong Town Hall |
For a project which requires participation from Singaporeans of all walks of life for it to be successful and meaningful, I'm so happy that NHB gave us these gems to appreciate (and for creatives, to be inspired by). Without eye-catching graphics, we lose the potential participant's interest in the project.
The numbers speak for themselves. So far, I've seen ads for Our Singapore Heritage on social media and out-of-home media (bus stop billboards), but not on print. Still, many people shared their stories, gave feedback and contributed to the project, which was valuable to the NHB team for the creation of the Our SG Heritage Plan.
Merch (or lack thereof)
Given how nicely done the identity is, it would only make sense for NHB to sell some of its designs on merch. I'd proudly wear a tee featuring these icons than a vanilla tee found in every shop in the tourist district.
Is it just me, but is anyone wishing for a stamp collection of these icons? I feel the need to own a physical copy of these designs since they are so well done, and stamps would just do the trick. Or Stickers. Or playing cards. Or key chains.
For now, the only item they seem to have is a Jenga set which does not appear to be for sale - they are only available through photo contests.
This is an opportunity for NHB to further spread the awareness of this project and get additional funding for heritage events. If they can nail the creation of such knickknacks, they are surely going to be a hit with locals and foreigners. Perhaps The Museum Label can help with that...
Till they start selling Our Singapore Heritage Merch, I'd just be admiring this aesthetic in my desktop folder of online design inspiration.
CONVERSATION