For a while I'd wanted to do a free badge, to be distributed on a large scale but just never
quite got around to doing it. When Dan Holliday organised a badge show at the Mangle
Studios in Hackney, East London, in May 2005 I finally got around to realising this idea.

The remit of Dan's exhibition was for each artist to produce a Limited Edition of Badge
Sets to be sold exclusively at the exhibition - so I did the exact opposite, making a free,
large edition of badges!

'Badge for Life' is a pun/wordplay on the 'Bag for Life' produced in recent years by
major supermarkets, and the promise that 'If this badge ever breaks or wears out please
return it to us, together with a stamped, self-addressed envelope - we'll send you a free
replacement!' is copied directly from the wording on a 'Bag for Life'

I intended Badge for Life, to be a very open, blank, neutral piece of work to which
recipients can attach their own meaning/explaination - the accompanying text does not
give any explaination or context for the free badge. I also wanted it to be an anonymous
piece of work so my name is not included on the packaging, although if you follow the
link to the website then it's pretty obvious who is responsible!

The handwritten lettering with a circular outline is how I sketch out rough badge ideas,
and I think I kept this style to retain the spontaneity of the idea for Badge for Life, and also
give it a personal touch - I very rarely use my handwriting in work.

and to add another level of meaning, this 'Badge for Life' is actually a picture of a badge,
so can also be seen as a slightly ironic or tongue in cheek piece of work.

---

A sucessor to Badge for Life, using a different more intimate method of distribution. -
"Free, Ad Hoc, Random, Personal, Distribution, Not available by Mailorder,
Not For Sale. Available until I get bored of doing it."