Be informed

The Design Museum in London is currently offering an exhibition of history of the Spanish family-owned shoe maker, Camper. I’m not a particular fan of the style of the shoes, iconic though they are (left).

For those unfamiliar with Catalan, Camper means peasant or farmer, suitably betraying the origins of the company. They are a hybrid work-leasure-sport shoe. The company tells its own history here.

The exhibition itself does three things excellently. First, it shows the core artefact, the shoes. Second, the process of design and manufacture is explained, not just for Campers, but for shoes more generally, complete with tools and demonstrations using video screens.

Finally, there is a business element. Camper has a rich marketing heritage (even though the firm dates only from 1975). The advertising (left and above left) has a 1930s feel about it. The brand itself is simple and distinctive.

The exhibition runs until 1 November 2015.