Branding dominates our lives. Few of us could see a specific shade of red and yellow and not know immediately what fast-food brand it represented, or hear the notes of a jingle and not immediately recognise the store. But how did brands evolve, and in what ways did they win our hearts and minds? The Museum of Brands, housed in a snazzy art deco building near Notting Hill, seeks to answer these big questions, while offering a trip down memory lane.
The museum also considers how big businesses are preparing the packaging of the future – sustainable plastics for supermarkets, for example – and there are interactive exhibitions and features to entertain visitors of all ages. The space also hosts talks by representatives from advertising firms, who explore questions such as how powerful brands can boost shareholder value.
This is a quirky, relevant museum, and one that’s well worth spending time in to explore just how much our lives have been influenced by the world’s biggest names in the commercial sphere.
When is the Museum of Brands Open?
Daily 10am to 6pm, Saturday11am to 5pm.
Nearest Station to the Museum of Brands
Latimer Road tube (Hammersmith & City Line)
Listing generously provided by Eleanor Ross, author of London’s Museums and Galleries, Exploring the Best of the City’s Art and Culture (published by Frances Lincoln), which can be purchased online here.
