Louis Vuitton, Lionel Messi celebrate travel season in jet-setting campaignChanel inspires natural beauty with ‘effortless’ campaignConsumers collect all sorts of odds and ends on their travel. But Raoul Shah, founder and joint CEO of creative communications agency Exposure, has spent 39 years on a particular interest: collecting “Do Not Disturb” signs from hotels and resorts he has visited on his travels globally.
It’s also for those that may be curious to know more about some of those moments in far-flung places, whether solitary or in good company. It makes a great conversation starter. There was no intention to start a collection back then. It just became an idea to have a souvenir from my first U.S. visit when I collected 12 from various hotels.I find them fascinating in terms of what a simple card can do to give you control and provide an escape from the outside world. They are an interesting analog device in a digital world where our privacy has become such a huge subject of debate.
It was a privilege to have their eyes and ideas available to help shape the book’s overall design, layout and flow.However, I have had the book sold at Dover Street Market London and Los Angeles as well as online, The Laslett Hotel in Notting Hill, Noah NYC, and it is now also available in London atPeople always ask me about my network of friends and connections around the world.
However, it’s amazing how many big name, global hotels groups, as well as some very luxurious properties, spend such little time on their branding and design.What differences have you noticed with do-not-disturb signs by property, hotel brand and region?The American groups have gone from bulk buying signs from a central supplier in the ‘80s to being more bespoke, playful and cheeky with their messages.