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Bristol University’s iconic buildings inspire new range of merchandise

The Icon Range tea towel designed by Susan Taylor

The Icon Range tea towel designed by Susan Taylor

David Alder, Director of Communications and Marketing at Bristol University, and Sam Budd, Chief Executive of the Students' Union, with the new tea towel

David Alder, Director of Communications and Marketing at Bristol University, and Sam Budd, Chief Executive of the Students' Union, with the new tea towel

Press release issued: 15 December 2011

Bristol University’s iconic buildings and symbols have been used to create an eye-catching design by local artist Susan Taylor. Her vibrant green, turquoise and black design will be making its first appearance in the form of a tea towel – the first in a new range of merchandise which the University and Students’ Union hope will be popular not just with past and present students, but with people from across the city.

Her vibrant green, turquoise and black design will be making its first appearance in the form of a tea towel – the first in a new range of merchandise which the University and Students’ Union hope will be popular not just with past and present students, but with people from across the city.

Susan is well-known for creating poster-style prints using digital illustration and hand-drawn ink drawings with experimental typefaces. She cites war-time revolutionary posters, vintage book illustrations and the Bauhaus movement as her inspiration.

The University of Bristol design features the familiar outlines of the Wills Memorial Tower, Royal Fort House, The Victoria Rooms and several halls of residences. Dotted between the main images are bicycles, mortar boards and even Winston Churchill – the University’s Chancellor for 36 years until his death in 1965.

Susan Taylor said: “It was an honour to be chosen to create an iconic set of images for the University of Bristol’s new merchandise range. However, choosing which buildings to illustrate was a difficult task - there are so many great looking ones!

“The Wills Memorial Tower is the most significant and impressive structure, so I made it the most prominent, and this acted as a starting point for the rest of the design. The curve of the Student Union staircase adds a nice fluidity and the decorative features, such as the gargoyle and the suns, add a lighter element of fun.”

Sam Budd, Chief Executive of the Students’ Union, said: “It has been really interesting working with Susan on this. It has been a great opportunity to look at ourselves from the outside in and to present a fresh and new perspective of the University to students, staff and the general public.”

David Alder, Director of Communications and Marketing at Bristol University, added: “We are very fortunate to have so many fabulous buildings at the University, many of which are icons not just for the University, but for the city as a whole. The buildings are not only an inspiration for the design, but also for the name of this new range of merchandise - the ‘Icon Range’.”

A mug is also being planned for the range and will be introduced soon. The tea towels are now available to buy for £7.50 from the Students’ Union, the Info Point on Tyndall Avenue or online: www.ubushop.co.uk

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