If there’s one thing Edwin Ellis writer and designer Stacey Barnfield never tires of, it’s telling the remarkable, characterful and often-overlooked stories of his hometown, Birmingham.
From street-level art and architecture to global firsts in manufacturing, Birmingham’s history is as rich and industrious as they come – and now Stacey is bringing it to life through a new social media campaign with a twist.
Taking the form of mock billboard-style posters, the campaign features short, punchy lines that celebrate Birmingham’s quirks and contributions to the world.
These digital billboards aren’t stuck to bricks and mortar – they live online, shared across social media to spark interest, pride and a few smiles among Brummies and curious minds everywhere.
Lines such as “Bells, whistles and anything else in between – the world’s first manufacturing town” and “Half the world’s pen nibs and the typeface you’re reading now” hint at just a fraction of the city’s global legacy in craftsmanship, design and innovation.
“Birmingham’s stories are everywhere – in the things we use every day and the objects we barely notice. From industry and typography to the buildings we walk past without looking up, it’s all around us,” Stacey explains.
“These posts are my way of nudging people to stop, think and feel proud about what Birmingham has given the world – often without shouting about it.”
Each post is backed by research and rooted in fact – with a little poetic licence thrown in to bring the storytelling alive. It’s a continuation of Stacey’s long-standing passion for celebrating the city’s visual identity through creative design, whether it’s his Draw My City illustrations or the hugely popular Colour Palette Company project, now working with museums and cultural venues across the UK.
But this latest campaign is all about words. Words that celebrate a place that’s made everything from whistles and buttons to typefaces and great art. A city that helped shape the modern world.
So keep an eye on Stacey’s social feeds for the latest from the billboard-inspired series – you never know which Brummie story might pop up next.
And if you’re a business, destination or cultural organisation looking to bring your own story to life with creative content and design, we’d love to help. Because when it comes to celebrating Birmingham, we believe every detail is worth noticing.
