Connect2 Tender

First draft of illustrated strapline for Sustrans Connect2 interpretation board template, unfinished.

Part of a national project extending and linking public access networks to local communities. The aim, to engage and encourage public use beyond recreation.  

Design Rationale

The illustration is a cohesive montage depicting a variety of landscape types in the background and network user types in the foreground. The variety of users to include school pupils on their way to school, manual and blue collar workers on their way to work and shoppers on their way home. Although aesthetically pleasing, the illustrated Strap line is a deliberate vehicle to indicate the potential use of each network and is further reinforced by the placement of the Connect2 tag line “Everyday journeys by foot or bike”.

The landscapes represent rural, urban and city communities and also indicate each nation e.g. Mountain ranges for Scotland, sweeping valleys for Wales, rugged coastline for Northern Ireland and open countryside featuring oak trees for England. Each topographic feature follows Sustrans specific colour swatch i.e. Pink/Northern Ireland, Dark blue/Scotland, Rust/Wales. Additional palette includes Sustrans logo bright green and grey, Route Sign blue and England Safe Routes to Schools bright blue.

Peppered throughout the landscapes, will be iconic architectural features including bridges, village church spires, perhaps mosques and city skyscrapers. Additional transport infrastructure such as trains, buses and a canal and towpath (as an historic reference to Sustrans) will also be incorporated.   

Style

Contemporary vector illustration, inspired by flat poster engravings from the 1930s to 50s, illustrated by the likes of Brian Cook and Harold Briercliffe’s, Britain by Bike book covers.