Hidden History

Hidden History
Disciplines: Branding, Strategy, Advertising, Copywriting, OOH, Social Media Campaign

Ghost signs are fascinating pieces of urban archeology. Imposing, yet hidden in plain sight, these faded advertisements are history written on to the contemporary cityscape. These advertisements reveal fascinating stories of everyday life and each has its own story to tell — not just of the business it represents and the people behind it, but of its own improbable survival.

These enigmatic advertisements reveal fascinating stories of everyday life, and serve as tangible links to the past, offering a glimpse into the lives they once had with their own story, hiding in plain sight.

For my thesis project, I was intrigued with ghost signs and the “hidden stories” that these encapsulate. So, I created Hidden History. A digital platform that allows history, advertisement, and sign aficionados to digitally capture, store and preserve ghost signs which have been slowly disappearing with the passing of time.

Hidden History offers a lens into a city’s past with context and color serving as a digital sanctuary for fading ads, offering a platform to capture, catalog, and safeguard ghost signs from the ravages of time. By enabling users to explore these ghost signs, delve into their histories, and share anecdotes online with the community, Hidden History fosters connections and ensures the endurance of these evocative symbols for generations to come.