Mural for x+why by BarneyIbbotsonIllustration in Manchester

x+why is a London-based company that creates flexible and innovative workspaces with excellent environmental credentials. Their first workspace in the north of England was opened in a brand new building in Salford, called 100 Embankment. I was commissioned by design agency Mammal to design a mural to enhance the main reception area. The brief asked for a design with a strong narrative, that captured the both the history of the site and area, as well as the sustainable future of Salford. The site is where Manchester’s Exchange Station once stood, and long before that it was the medieval, agricultural centre of the Salford borough. It then became home to a bustling community of cloth workers before expanding rapidly during the Industrial Revolution. Post-war decline followed before its renewal in the 21st century. I decided to create a timeline, split into recognisable eras from Medieval to the present and future, scattered with key moments and Salford landmarks, whilst also illustrating everyday people of the time. The mural was printed onto wallpaper and installed in the main reception space of the building.