Lightwood Estate Poster designed for Peet.

When Australian property developer - Peet - approached my studio last year to commission a collection of vintage estate posters, I knew the most beautiful project had just landed on my desk, and that I was about to embark on a fascinating journey into the advertising and marketing techniques of the past

The company has a long history of producing estate posters to promote its properties and developments, particularly in Western Australia. However, the use of estate posters began to decline in the latter half of the 20th century, as new forms of advertising and marketing emerged. By the 1980s and 1990s, estate posters had largely been replaced by more modern forms of advertising, such as billboards, brochures, and online listings.

In recent years, estate posters have experienced a resurgence in popularity, as collectors and enthusiasts have rediscovered their artistic and historical value. With this renewed interest in vintage estate posters, a number of companies in Australia have also begun producing new posters in the vintage style.

Peet wanted to honour its heritage, by producing this collection of estate posters featuring modern properties and developments but designed to evoke the style and charm of vintage estate posters from the past.

This design job required hours of research and archival searching to get myself familiarised with the visual language used by the old illustrators, from composition to colour and typography. The initial sketches and layout were hand-drawn, however, the design execution was made in Photoshop and Illustrator, to take advantage of modern printing techniques.

Vintage Estate Posters designed for Peet

The high-quality illustrations of the properties and surrounding landscapes, along with stylized typography and copy harken back to the golden age of estate posters, offering a fresh take on a classic art form and providing a unique way to celebrate Australia's cultural heritage and natural beauty.

The typographic work features bold lettering and creative layouts, and constitutes an integral part of the design, used to draw the viewer's attention to key features or messages.

Colours are also bold and vibrant to create a sense of energy and excitement. Many vintage estate posters featured a limited colour palette, with a few dominant hues of red, green, blue or orange used to create a cohesive and visually striking design.

Overall, this collection of vintage estate posters designed for Peet honours the company's cultural heritage and offers a fascinating glimpse into its history and development.