View of East River from Wall Street Ferry Slip

This photo was taken around the Wall Street Ferry Slip in Manhattan, New York City circa 1890-1915. The design itself is harder to denote from far away, but one of the signs advertises Dr. J. Fehr’s Talcum Powder. The primary focus of this design is not the typography or composition, but the location. The ferry carried thousands of passengers everyday and the billboard advertisements would capture the eyes of anyone looking out from the boats. This primary location strategically exposed the businesses and products to both domestic and international consumers. This is an early example of a greater understanding of location-based marketing strategies and how design, specifically, was emerging as an integral tool for the broader consumer market. The design sat at a literal and metaphorical intersection of the target audience's daily lives and patterns, covering a diverse mix of social classes and backgrounds in a rapidly-growing New York City. 

Contextual information pulled from Street Advertising in Early 20th Century Manhattan by Michelle Kennedy, a collections chronicles blog from the South Street Seaport Museum.