If you love design and have a creative spark of your own that needs nurturing, Manchester is the place to be. As a city, it seems to attract progressive thinkers, boundary pushers and people who aren’t afraid to shake up the norms and break the mould.
With that in mind, here are some examples of the sights to see and the businesses to check out if you are a connoisseur of good design and you’re either already a Manchester resident, or you’re planning a trip to the city in the near future.
Wellbeing Cafe and Bar Feel Good Club
We’re all more aware of how important maintaining good mental health is these days, and Feel Good Club is a cafe and bar in the Northern Quarter that oozes positivity and is in fact founded on the very principles of wellbeing that are so on-trend right now.
Although it occupies a somewhat anonymous-looking building, the branding of Feel Good Club is incredibly well crafted, and is probably the reason that its online store is a huge hit both among its customers and further afield.
Branding and Design Agency Shape
If you are looking for a trustworthy branding agency in Manchester, Shape is an excellent business to consider.
With all sorts of projects under its belt already, this up and coming company has turned its hand to branding for everything from sportswear and fashion to the restaurant biz and the beauty industry.
Vinyl Stockists Piccadilly Records
While we may live in the age of digital music, there’s something unmatched about having a tangible record in your hands, which you can admire from a design perspective and also play to soak up the sounds in a more traditional way.
Album artwork is the star of the show at Piccadilly Records, and this store has managed to operate independently for over 40 years, so pop in and you’ll spend hours browsing the racks of albums and singles, flicking through big hits and obscure classics alike, or even catch record launches and fan events.
Second Hand Literature Supplier Paramount Books
Whether or not you are much of a reading fan, heading to Paramount Books in Shudehill is advisable, just to see the unusual exterior of the building it occupies. Sitting right next to the anonymous mass of the Arndale Centre, it is something of an anomaly, with an almost art deco frontage that is unlike anything else nearby.
Head within the shop, providing it is open, and you’ll find every available surface covered in books and comics. It’s something of an Aladdin’s Cave of old manuscripts, and like Piccadilly Records is a real institution of independent Manchester.
Indoor Market Space Afflecks
If kookiness is your cup of tea, then Afflecks is the place to be. It plays host to a whole heap of different stalls and store areas, each one operated independently, yet all managing to come together to make something truly special.
From vintage clothing to gifts, from fancy dress to spiritualism, you’re sure to find amazing designs and incredible products that simply aren’t available anywhere else.
Chocolatiers Cocoa Cabana
Design takes many forms, and the picture-perfect chocolate products conjured up at Cocoa Cabana’s locations in Didsbury and Ancoats are something to behold, especially if you’ve got a sweet tooth.
Even if you don’t have much of an affinity for indulgent treats, then you have to admire the mixture of finely-honed branding as well as the impressive interior design touches that are present throughout.
All that remains is for you to get out and about in Manchester and derive your own design inspiration from the things you see and do!
