The ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign, that magical invention deemed inappropriate (sadly) to use in any setting outside of a hotel room, has finally received the credit it is due in a new book Do Not Disturb by Raoul Shah.
Shah, the CEO of creative agency Exposure, began collecting the door signs as a child on his first trip to America in 1980, he didn’t know then but that first sign would be the start of a collection that would span his life, forming a visual journey of every hotel room he ever visited.
The collection, now in the hundreds, is also an eclectic window into the changing face of design over the last three decades. Shah’s book includes signs collected and created by creative heavyweights Rankin, Tom Dixon and The Clash vocalist Joe Strummer.
Maybe next time you stay in a hotel you’ll pay closer attention to the little sign dangling on the back of your door. I for one, am going to stick them to the front of all my clothes, hopefully people will start to get the message.
Take a closer look at some of the signs featured in the book here.
Do not Disturb is sold at the Laslett Hotel in Notting Hill and in Dover Street Market from 16 May.
