L5 summer project - summary

 Summary

After delving into the history and context of stickers, I think the key reason why I find them so interesting is their versatility and ability to personalise things, whilst adding character to everyday objects; for example, fruit stickers provide fun visuals to what would be a bog standard banana. 

What I've learnt from my research in retrospect is that stickers were historically created with this intention of branding and adding a playful yet functional aspect to our everyday lives. Stickers have both a commercial and fun side to them, enabling people to associate things with their corresponding stickers. For instance, bumper stickers are super interesting in how they are used decoratively, yet also have political undertones by being used in campaigns; this links to the philosophy of bumper stickers discussed by Jack Bowen, in the sense that stickers can be conversation starters for heavy philosophical topics. 

The accessorization of stickers is mainly what drew me to look into the subject more, as I am a firm believer in the more tactile and exclusive side to design; fruit stickers obtain this exclusivity in how certain stickers can only be found in the streets of random fruit stalls around the world - the fact that stickers in supermarkets are regulated means that a random Rolex banana sticker is just the more exciting. I also love the influence that these tiny sticky illustrations provide within the design world, with more and more design taking inspiration from the wacky personified fruit on labels; it certainly has sparked a trend within illustration, that pushes designers to take their work less seriously by drawing a banana in a cowboy hat. 

I think that in a world where things are becoming more digital, stickers in general have such a massive nostalgic element to them, which continues their relevance today; people still want a more tactile experience, even down to kids in primary schools been given stickers as rewards. I strive to take inspiration from this personal side to design, as stickers really can elevate user experiences through being way more interactive. This is probably the reason why every student in every university is bound to have stickers plastered on their laptops; it boils down to everyone wanting to personalise things and to be unique (apart from Supreme stickers - they're rubbish).