'The Way We Were' is an art project by MessyMsxi and Ai Wei Lua, featuring original artworks by MessyMsxi on Kampong and Trade of the 60s on various mechandise (pouch, scarft, umbrella, plates, pillows and tifin carriers). This initiative is part of Singapore Memory Project. We were engaged to design the project identity, collaterals and exhibition.
CONCEPT
As the title alludes, the project reminiscents the past time of simpler trade and Kampong lifestyle in the 60s. The logotype is thus designed right-aligned to suggest a backward-flow of the reading. An unconventional hot-pink single color palette is used to juxtapose with the illustration, and to ground the project with a visual sense of the modern presence looking backward.
In the days of old, old newspapers were often reappropriated as packaging materials in shops and markets. Inspired by this old practice, we designed an authentic 'Singapura Times' newspaper cover sheet dated 1969 as the packaging for the merchandise products in carrying stores.
LABELS & PHOTOGRAPHY
EXHIBITION
The merchandise products were launched in an exhibition held within the atrium of National Library Building lobby. Faced with limited space and budget, our solution was to recycle and age wooden palettes and crates, and designed a fictional convenient shop logo in 60s treatment style as foundations to build the exhibition.
