When I first saw the SNG Barratt 40th anniversary graphic a few years ago, I thought ‘Now this is good storytelling.’
And when I was hunting around at the start of the year for our own 40th anniversary inspiration.. for Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL).. I remembered what this image had powerfully communicated.
An interesting British company – conveniently just down the road from me in Shropshire, and one of the reasons my old ’90s Jag is still on the road – showing cars from different eras.
The cars do most of the storytelling.
But the unmistakably British pastoral backdrop helps, as does the laurel motif.. a subtle nod to the winner’s garlands of motorsport’s earlier decades. (F1 nerds will know these were largely dropped after 1986, when sponsors objected to their logos on the driver’s race suits being obscured.)
At SSTL we borrowed this ‘then and now’ principle and created our own hero image. Our very first satellite alongside our latest one. Both photos were shot in the clean room, and both feature satellite engineers from each era.
What I think really lands is how similar the satellites are in size, despite being vastly more capable today.. and also how clearly the engineers reflect the periods they represent.
Thank you to SNG Barratt for the inspiration. Sometimes great storytelling is hiding in plain sight, if you’re paying attention.
Andrew Greenhalgh 