welcome to

downend

Produced by Sophie Slade

DownendDownend is a suburb of Bristol in South Gloucestershire, located

to the North East of Bristol.

For the community service brief, my place to was Downend. Initially I knew nothing about the place, and went into town without any previous knowledge. When arriving in Downend, I was pleasantly surprised. The streets weren’t too busy, but still had a strong sense of community. People walked past each other greeting one another, whilst locals sat down outside the café for a catch up with a

cup of tea. I decided to sit down and sketch the oldest looking building opposite me, the Horseshoe pub. A few people walking past stopped to acknowledge what I was doing and seemed to have a keen interest. After 15 minutes I came to an understanding that Downend is a local, friendly community, with an old fashioned vibe. I was keen to explore more and gather local information from residents and passers by.

Initial ResearchBefore I interviewed residents of Downend, I began my initial research by noting down some things I noticed at first sight. To begin with, the duration of the bus journey took 44 minutes 56 seconds, and had a total of 22 people use the bus. The area looked spacious and friendly, with the buildings not looking too old; except for the pub, which looked like the oldest building around. There was a war memorial that read:

“1st Downend troop boy scouts. To the memory of those who fell in the Great War 1914 – 1919.

Rev. P.G. Alexander. Hon. S.M.D. Callaghan.

F. Carnelly.G. Davis.

A. George.A. Hammond.

H. Hill.”

“Called to higher service.J. Davison.Downend.”

There was a nice vibe to Downend, the town looked very traditional and everyone seemed to be locals who knew each other. However the shops didn’t suit the area. Across the road from the café were a Lloyds TSB, Natwest and HSBC all in a row, followed by 4 building societies and letting agencies. I was curious to find out the history of the shops, and my initial reaction was to base my project on this ridiculous order and inconveniency of shops. I went off to begin interviewing people without having being influenced by this initial reaction. I wanted to find out as much as I could without any background knowledge, and approach this task without a prejudiced and biased opinion already established.

InterviewsI started interviewing people on the streets, and coincidently the first woman I interviewed was an ex-graphic designer. Her name was charlotte smith and we sat down at the café talking about Downend and potential ideas for my poster. I then spoke to an old lady before going on to shop owners to see how long their company had been there for, and for any interesting information about the history of the shops.

Interviews are documented on the next page.

Frydays - a local fish and chip shop that has been around for 40 years.

Fish and chip shop (Frydays)

notes gathered from ownerBeen around for 40 years, although within that time there have been around 4 different owners. Locals love and use local shops. The people are lovely; it is such a lovely community. There used to be a butcher, laundrette, shops constantly change but the structure of the street has always been the same. Would live here, its and easy link to the city and has cheaper prices. There are some coalmines beneath the street. A survey was conducted to see where the mines are. The community all contribute to it’s needs, such as if the church roof was needed to be replaced. The community sticks together. Very traditional.

Pub (The Horseshoe)

notes gathered from managerThe pub has been here forever, there are pictures from the 1900s. Half the pub was here before early nineteen hundreds. In library there are books with pictures of horse and carriages. Owner has been managing it for over 20 years. Loyal area, wouldn’t change a thing. This building has always been a pub and is still standing strong.

Charlotte Smith

notes gathered from passerbyThe oldest building around here is the pub. All the shops have big bay windows from Victorian times when they used to display all their food such as the diary - used to perform in windows to people on the street. Lived in Bristol area for over 30 years. Newly wed and moving to Downend on Friday. Studied Graphic Design and now an estate agent. It’s local and loyal... people who live here stay here. Classic vintage and Victorian houses. A lovely strong community. Young child who she wants to grow up in Downend.

Besley Hill Estate Agent

notes gathered from two workers.Downend is a lovely place to live, lived here all his life. Things to change would be shops. Staple Hill is where everyone goes for convenience shops like butchers, supermarket etc. Too many curry houses and banks - shops aren’t useful to the area. The cricket court has been confirmed to have been sold off and for new flats to be built on. Community is lovely with a loyal pub in the centre.

St Peter’s Hospice charity shop

notes gathered from two workers.It’s the heart of the village. There are too many banks and estate agents. Theres a really old loyal pub which is apparently haunted! structure of street has stayed the same all these years, it is a very friendly and loyal community. We need more men! This end of downend is where the heart is. Lived here for over 20 years. John is the owner of the Horseshoe, and the pub is always packed. It’s where all the locals live and always have been. Their sons both worked there for a few years. They wouldn’t change a thing.

Elderly Lady (on the street)

notes gathered from passerbyLives in Kingswood area but comes to Downend a couple of days a week for the charity shops. There aren’t many other convenient shops other then that. Staple Hill is more popular. Would live here.

Downend Cards & Gifts

notes gathered from owner and customer.The shop used to be a Laundrette back in the day. The shops constantly change, lived here since 1976. Used to be a butchers but now there are 3 banks in a row - way too many. Only 1 supermarket, no convenience to shops. Golf court rumoured to be built on, which is a shame because its probably as old as the pub. There are 3 Indian restaurants, needs to be more variety. But other then that wouldn’t change much.

Cricket Court

notes gathered from a passerby.Come to Downend today to visit a friend who works in the Cricket Court. The area is very nice with a good bunch of people. It’s a busy high street with the pub always with customers. A lovely area.

HistoryWith the research I gathered from my interviews, I found out that the Horseshoe pub is the oldest building in Downend with its original purpose still in use. The pub is tidy and well kept, but has the features of an old Victorian building. Everyone I spoke to about the pub says it has been there since before the 1900’s and that it is the local where everyone goes – it is never empty, its always vibrant and its where Downend socialise. I went to Downend Cards & Gifts, and when speaking to the owners they showed me a post card of Downend from 1919. It was so interesting seeing the shape of the roads and the buildings from 100 years ago – and the Horseshoe pub sign was in the top right hand corner. I bought the post card to examine it more, and tried to find the exact same position the photograph was

taken. I managed to line up the war memorial in the same place as in the post card, but where the photo was taken originally was in the middle of the busy road, so I tried my best to get into the exact position. Looking closely at the post card, the only two shops you can see are a family butchers and a fish and chip bar. From these two shops it matches up with what the residents of Downend were telling me – the shops used to be traditional and convenient, but now they are useless and have too many of thee same thing. The houses behind the war memorial have now been changed into a car store, and the road has been widened for traffic. A lot of trees behind the houses have been chopped down, and the road edges and pavements have been neatened up – its really interesting to see how it’s changed in 100 years.

Above, Downend, 1919. Below, Downend 2012

When it came to deciding the purpose of my poster, my first thought was to base it on the fact that the high street shops have lost their originality and uniqueness. Lots of interviewees mentioned how the street used to have classical old-fashioned shops, such as a butchers, bakery, launderette etc. Now days there are 3 banks in a row, 4 curry houses and several estate and letting agencies. However, I didn’t feel it was my place to necessarily change the shops, and wanted to have more of a positive impact on the community. That’s when I started to understand more about Downend’s community. As I mentioned previously, when first visiting Downend everyone seemed to know each other. It was so

lovely seeing that the community hasn’t died. There was even a local notice board to let people know of up coming events such as boot sales or school and church performances. I thought this was a lovely element to focus on with Downend, as it is what I now know it for. I began to sketch ways I could portray the fact that the people of Downend should acknowledge what such a strong community it was, and doodled ideas based around the 1912 memorial statue and the road structure that it’s kept for over a hundred years. I came to a decision to simply use the silhouettes of the people of Downend as the main focus of my poster – as it is them after all who make it such a strong community and lovely place.

Design Ideas

I wanted to reflect the community within my poster, and thought one of the strongest ways of doing this was to use the people of Downend, as it is them who make it what it is. My interpretation of the brief was to not use images and to make the poster just text based. I found it difficult using purely text to really get my meaning across, and so started to explore ways I could go about this. I began looking into artists who use text to outline an image, and found a really interesting website with a list of artists who do this. I then experimented with illustrator and was able to draw the outline of people

within the community purely with text. Initially I wanted the outline to be the written out interview of what people had said when we spoke, however I found that the text was illegible and would have drawn the attention away from the purpose I wanted. I therefore typed the name of the person or shop that had spoken to me, for example ‘Good Frydays’ – the local fish and chip shop who were very friendly and well known within Downend. I then wanted to use a ‘friendly’, easy on the eye looking font to type one of their strongest quotes in the middle, and for this I chose to use airplane.

locals love and use local shops.

Good Fryd

ay s. Good Fr yday s. Good Fryda

ys. Good Frydays. G

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Fryd ays. Good Frydays. Good Frydays. Good Frydays. Good Frydays. Good Fr

ydays. Good Frydays. Good Frydays. Good Frydays. Fryday. Good Frydays Good Fryd

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ys. Good Frydays

. Goo

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s. Good Fr ydays. Good Fryday s.G

ood

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After I had designed my initial focus in my poster (the outlines of people in Downend), I wanted the background to reflect the town as well. I started this by using photographs I had taken on my visits, but felt that it drew the attention away from the main focus of the poster, and in some cases stood out bolder then the silhouettes. I then thought into ways of how I could reflect the calm, happy atmosphere Downend

has, and thought into using colours like orange and yellow. My designs then went on to the colours of mint green and turquoise, but this appeared to reflect too much quietness. From there I added a gradient into the background, to add to the sense of calmness and to also reflect the positive atmosphere, which I personally think works quite well.

Design ideas for the background image

For the back part of the poster I had an idea to make a silhouette of someone from Downend with a picture of the town within it. I began to play around on photoshop making different images of a basic head shape to see what would look best. I wanted to include a phrase within the image, and the one that seemed to fit perfectly was merely “hello” – it was the impression that I received from the people within Downend; friendly and welcoming. Sticking

to the brief, my understanding of it was to not include images. I then decided to play around with this element, editing my silhouette “hello” image making it unrecognizable as an image. I really liked this idea, as the final image appeared subtle and calm. It was not obvious or in your face… it is relaxed like Downend. I then continued the positive theme of this image by using a light orange colour over the top.

When it came to thinking where to display my poster, my initial thought was the Horseshoe pub, as it was where all the locals drink and socialise, and seemed like the busiest building in Downend. I then thought into how many estate agents there are, and how it would be great to get my poster in one of the plastic displays where houses are shown

for people to browse at through the window. However, when I had visited Downend I spotted a notice board in which the local council displayed up coming events and announcements. I jotted down the name of the council, ‘Downend and Bromley Heath parish council’, and looked up contact details and a website I could use to contact them.

Display

CouncilAfter finding the contact details of Downend and Bromley Heath parish council, I emailed them to see if it was possible to have my poster displayed in the notice board. I emailed a woman called Angela Hocking, who is the clerk to the council of Downend and Bromley Heath Parish council. My research into

who to contact went very well, as my poster could be displayed in the notice board! I was so pleased with this result, as it is the main place in Downend where people read about local events and announcements. The emails went as follows:

Hello,My name is Sophie Slade and I am a first year student

currently studying Graphic Design at Bristol UWE.I have been given a brief to research into a local area, and to produce a poster with the information I have researched.

My area was Downend. When visiting, the information I gathered from local shopkeepers and residents was that

overall everyone agreed it is a lovely place to live in, with a very strong, unique community.

I have designed a poster of some of the opinions and quotes I collected from people in Downend.

I am emailing to see if it is possible for me to be able to display my poster within one of the noticeboards, I noticed

there was one across the road from The Horseshoe pub.I have seen your website (http://www.

downendbromleyheath.org/) and thought this could be a good opportunity to promote Downend, and to raise even

more awareness of your work.Thank you for your time. Please let me know if this is

possible as it would be extremely useful for my project.Yours sincerely,Sophie Slade.

Hello SophieOf course we can display a poster for you!

Is there any way that the Parish Council can be of help to you? You are more than welcome to attend one of our

Council meetings to provide a short presentation on what you are doing - I am sure Councillors would love to hear

more and perhaps we can liaise with members of the Community Plan group as well?

Let me know - our next meeting is to be held on Thursday 19th April in Downend Baptist Church, Salisbury Road,

Downend at 7pm.Please forward the poster either by email or by post to 75

Wadham Grove, Emersons Green, Bristol BS16 7DXKind regards,

Angela HockingClerk to the Council

Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council

Tel. 0117 9567001E-mail. dandbhparish@btinternet.com

www.downendbromleyheath.org

Dear Angela,Thank you so much, this is such good news!

The meeting sounds great, however I have to have displayed my poster by next week Monday as I have to stick

to a dead-lined schedule. If it is still possible for it to be displayed still sometime this

week that would be amazing. I have attached the JPEG file in this email just in case. A4 sized would be perfect.

I am planning on visiting Downend again on Thursday this week to put up an A2 sized version. For my project I have to see how effective it is in the environment, so have added my contact details on the bottom if any one would be happy to report back to me their opinions on Downend/the poster.

Thank you so much for your help. Please let me know what happens!Regards,

Sophie Slade

(If you are interested about other work I do, here is my tumblr!

www.sophieslade.tumblr.com)

Sophie,Poster up in Downend in the notice board!

Good luck!Angela.

Dear Angela,Thank you so much for your help!

I will be visiting Downend again tomorrow; I’m excited to see the notice board!

Thanks again,Kind Regards,

Sophie

Around DownendI was so pleased to hear back from the council that my poster was in the Downend notice board. I visited Downend again the very next day to witness it in person. The poster was in the middle of the board, and promoting Downend for the loving, friendly community – exactly the purpose I wanted (photographs opposite). At this point I also had my A2 poster, and walked around town asking shops if they were willing to have it displayed in their shop windows. Every shop owner I asked

was more then happy to display the poster, and also to be photographed holding the poster. I went into the Horseshoe pub – which was very busy as expected! A few of the locals were asking me what the poster was for, and they too were more then willing to let me photograph them with the poster. I was extremely happy with the final result and overall reactions from my poster, the purpose and meaning were exactly what I wanted them to be.