Brighton & Hove Museums manage several historical landmarks, including the Royal Pavilion, Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, and Preston Manor. Together, they offer cultural enrichment through various exhibitions and events. Preston Manor, an Edwardian manor house, is preserved as it was in the early 20th century, offering insight into the lives of Brighton’s upper class. The house reflects a period when Britain was actively involved in global trade, including the tea trade that connected it to many parts of the world. Toop Studio was commissioned to design the visual identity for Shadows of Empire – Taking Tea at Preston Manor, an immersive trail exploring the history of Britain’s tea culture. Visitors journey through ten rooms, each presenting a unique aspect of Britain’s connections to the global tea trade. Starting in the manor’s parlours, visitors engage with a series of challenges to find tea for Mrs Ellen Stanford, all while uncovering the complexities of tea production and trade in the early 20th century. The design brief called for a visual concept that would enhance this narrative journey, offering an immersive experience as visitors moved from room to room. The design needed to evoke the atmosphere of the 1920s, a period when tea was a symbol of British life, while connecting the story to its broader historical context. The challenge was to create a cohesive and distinctive visual identity that blended seamlessly with the physical space, setting the exhibition apart from more traditional museum or afternoon tea experiences. The design approach focused on symbolic imagery to visually communicate the exhibition’s themes. Teapot silhouettes became a central graphic element, used to crop and layer images, creating juxtapositions that invited visitors to reflect on the diverse lives intertwined with the tea trade. Additionally, the Shadows of Empire hero image combined a portrait of Mrs Theresa Macquoid, a prominent Preston Manor resident, with a portrait of a Hkahku girl involved in the opium trade, highlighting the different perspectives related to the tea trade. To complement these visual elements, a carefully curated colour palette was introduced. The primary colour, a deep red, was inspired by British uniforms of the era, while a secondary lighter red referenced Chinese furniture from the same period. Shades of ‘Shadow grey’ and warm off-white grounded the brand, reflecting the aged look of 1920s photographs. These colours, paired with the silhouetted imagery, helped create a cohesive identity for the exhibition, carried through across posters and marketing materials. “Thank you for sending through the artwork – it’s amazing. We are all super pleased, all elements have worked so well together and the detail, illustration feel, colour choices – very exciting work of art that does exactly what we need. Thank you!” Kate Richardson
Glyndebourne Imago – Show Identity Design Glyndebourne Festival illustrations 2018
Shadows of Empire – Exhibition Branding & Poster Design – Brighton & Hove Museums
Project Background
Shadows of Empire Exhibition – The Design Brief
Project Outcome
Client Feedback
Curator (Inclusive Collections), Brighton & Hove Museums
