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Shopfront Studio is a shop and studio based in the creative centre of Winchester, Hampshire. First conceived as a gallery and art collective in Brighton by designer Laura Brown in 2005, the studio has been over 20 years in the making.

"I am a shopgirl at heart; I have lived and worked in all sorts of shops - first was an old off-license, next to Belcher's cafe and opposite local legendary pub the Lion & Lobster. The shop floor was used for art exhibitions and parties, bands on the ground floor, and DJs and performers played in the basement. As a designer, I was particularly drawn to the signage of shops. The Lanes in Brighton has a wonderful array of interesting indies. My final show at University celebrated shop culture - with newsagents fixturing and neon 'open' signs with back-to-front letters. The next place to call home was an old betting shop, just off London's famous flower market Columbia Road - the betting slips long gone, but the spirit remained. I went on to work for some of our most inspiring independent retailers, helping them with displays, design, copywriting and photography as well as serving customers and saw firsthand how important shops are for local communities "

Shopfront Studio is a platform celebrating shops as hubs of the community, exchange, commerce, and creativity, through digital, print and design. The online site offers regular news, recommendations, and interviews – and offers the opportunity to buy products from our featured shops and own range of goods. Shopfront Studio is also a design practice. Whose work includes art direction, identities, publications, exhibitions, signage, and packaging. We are building a reputation as a sought-after collaborator through our work with like-minded companies and individuals. Our approach ensures each design is meaningful and original.

But don’t take our word for it…

“ Laura is full of ideas and has an infectious enthusiasm which allows her to convey the possibilities for the development of a brand, a social media campaign or indeed a product range. She has a good set of tools in her bag: superb photography, lovely copywriting, and a solid knowledge of web and social platforms, and the interplay between them. She has a love of craft, art and typography, and independent retail and she always has her ear to the ground to spot trends and opportunities. Her work for our brand has been pivotal to its growth and continued success ”

Richard Norris, Founder, Long Barn

“ Laura is one of the most talented design professionals that I've had the pleasure to work with. Her eye for beauty and head for business gives her a unique ability to tackle a problem. Always inquiring and looking for new ideas and concepts, she can bring a lot to any brief "

Lilly Young, Brand Strategy Consultant, Unilever

“ When you work with Laura you know you are in good hands. Smart, creative, bold and fun. Laura's focus on brand strategy is incredible and as a start-up business, she really helped us find our way. I love tapping into Laura's thirst for creative ideation as she always brings something exciting to the table ’’

Stu Oakely, Film Publicist

“ Laura is a seriously impressive, smart and creative individual who brings a fresh and intelligent perspective to everything she does. Her leadership style is natural but passionate and her enthusiasm is as infectious as her laugh. I adored working with Laura at the FT and found her approach refreshing and inspiring in equal measure. If you get a chance to work with Laura, grab it! "

Katherine Phillips, Director of Technology, Just Eat

“ Laura is a delight to work with. She is really good at steering a brand's direction and maintaining consistency and is excellent at translating stakeholder needs into a vision - whether that be creative direction or brand messaging. She is also a great team player and really good at building and maintaining positive working relationships’’

Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager, The British Library