New banner design

Back in the summer of 2023 I was commissioned to create a design for the new Prospect/Bectu ceremonial banner

It has taken a long time to get to this point but I am finally able to share my design!

Background

I felt incredibly honoured to have been offered this commission as I come from a family with a strong trade union background and my late grandfather, who spent a lifetime as a union official in the printing industry, always instilled in me the importance and value of being a trade union member. Much of the progress we often take for granted today has come from the tireless efforts of trade unions and their members: two-day weekends, paid maternity leave, workplace pensions, paid holidays, the minimum wage, shorter working hours, equality laws, overtime pay, regular pay rises, and proper health and safety at work (the list goes on) so this has been a very meaningful project for me. Also, from a design perspective, I've always been fascinated by trade union banners, so the initial research stage of this project gave me a great insight into the design elements and historical significance of traditional banner design.

Design

I used a bright colour scheme with a background of mint green from the union’s official colour palette, on which to display the Prospect Bectu logos, colours and variety of industry symbols. I also emphasised the diverseness of the union, its industries and its members, and showed how they are passionate about campaigning for key issues that affect everybody. I also wanted to highlight that with a strong, skilled, diverse and united workforce, people can achieve more collectively. I used some traditional imagery, such as banner ribbons, to align in style with more historical banners, and featured industry icons to resonate with reps and members, both past and present. I also used some modern imagery to appeal to a new generation and to reflect the fact that unions are having to evolve greatly to survive today.

In late 2024 the union commissioned one of the UK’s traditional banner makers to bring my design to life and talented artist, Emma Shankland, from Durham Bannermakers painstakingly hand-painted the imagery onto a traditional silk banner with full border and gold fringe and it looks fantastic.

The new banner was finally unveiled in the summer of 2025 at The Durham Miners Gala followed the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival in Dorset.

For more photos and videos of the new ceremonial banner please check out my Instagram page

For more information about Prospect union please visit: Prospect