In 2002, two years after the dawn of www.thedesignersrepublic.com, we launched our online retail experience, The Peoples Bureau For Consumer Information intended to be a design superstore selling everything branded up with TDR™ logos, design, branding and brand expression etc as well as ‘own brand’ Buy Me wearables and ephemera.

We made £60k in the first month.

We were working with various printers to handle the volume and one company pitching for our trade offered to print up the Buy Me (white close kerned Helvetica 95) on red tees for a decent price. As a try out they printed 10 tests. We decided to take use of these tests by designing the print as the launch details for the site — 12.00 GMT Feb 14th (Ian’s birthday) 2002.

They were printed on standard off the shelf red tees

We used them in various photo pranks for press (and for our own amusement).

In June 2002 we did the Brain Aided Design show as part of Sonar at Barcelona’s La Capella De L’antic Hospital de La Santa Creu, and had a physical launch of sorts where the local team seconded to run the Peoples Bureau store at the venue all wore these test printed shirts.

22 years later, this is what we have left of the 10. Vintage.

*Approximate Size

Length: 80cm, Width: 55cm.