entries Tagged as [design history]

Old No. 7 Brand

Just what is the story behind Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 – ?

Video by Brand New School.

Found via DesignScene

Royale

While I’m in the mood, might as well post Daniel Kleinman’s titles for Casino Royale (2006). Video above, article here.

Scholarly HistoricType


Collection: Urban Landscape; Location: Columbus, Ohio

More than just another image collection, HistoricType plans to be an online research library for students, professionals and scholars – concentrating on non-print typography, lettering used for old signs and buildings throughout the US.

Visit the HistoricType website here. Blog here.

HistoricType is edited by Laura Franz and Anna Dempsey; programmed by Randy Apuzzo/Jetscram Design and funded thru a grant from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.


Collection: Downtown, USA; Location: Grafton, West Virginia

Found via Justin Nelson

French Paper posters, by CSA

Charles S. Anderson Design’s promotional materials for French Paper are legendary. Snag some of the posters here.

The rarities are not cheap though, the Seinfeld final episode commemorative (above) goes for $500.

Bonehead

Every time I teach a publication design course, I assign a famous designer (or other acclaimed individual) as a biographical research subject. As part of the class, students have to do their own research, write their own text and design their own book.

Back in the 1980s, Charles S. Anderson pioneered ‘bonehead’ design, which involved a midwestern attitude and lots of clip art. Art Institute of California Sacramento graphic design student Trixy Riggan ran with it, developing the handmade biographical tome pictured.

On the side, Trixy runs a clothing company, Fabulously Butch. I still have to snag one of her shirts. I’m told there would be irony in me wearing one.

My favorite watch

‘Bonehead’-style watch. Early Fossil Appliance series.

NBC Mystery Movie

The NBC Mystery Movie was a 1970s anthology series showcasing different crime dramas. Like Law & Order, but different. They had the coolest intro with theme music by Henry Mancini.

A drive in break

Drive Ins always had double features and Sacramento’s six screen is still open (Facebook group here). Also projecting is the local Movies on a Big Screen.

For intermission: Commercials, community service ads and countdown animations used to remind everyone to be back in their car in time for the second film. Here’s a bunch.

And
Check out my Burlingame Drive In prints, cards and postcards.

For the record, I did propose to my wife at the (now gone) chilly Burlingame between Nine Months and Clueless.

Theatre time!

Local bumpers for theatre chains.

General Cinema’s original Feature Presentation animation (above) was iconic. Skip thru to 3:40 to see it in its 1960s blue glory!

Syufy’s old music (below) got the audience to clap along. Their googie-styled cinemas were shaped like dome spaceships.

United Artists (above) was pure 1980s flair!

I once saw a guy walk out of a showing of Amadeus (1984) humming the UA theme music.

And
Check out my Theatre prints, cards and postcards. Featuring the now defunct Millbrae and Belmont Theatres. Part of my 20th Century Obsolete series (below).

Paul Rand and ABC

The ABC logo was designed by the legendary Paul Rand (1914-96) in 1962.


 

Here’s a rare, three-part cable access interview with Rand from 1991. I like his comments on writing (end of part three):


Interview by Miggs B

The CBS Gastrotypographicalassemblage

Back in the 1960s, CBS art director Lou Dorfsman created one of the most influential typographic treatments of all time.

Today, designers have rediscovered the Gastrotypographicalassemblage’s 3D complexity – and today it’s been influencing everything from the design of Zune advertisements to kinetic typography videos (note that the new adaptations also tend to be in black/white with minimal color).

The video (above) gives history. And here’s more history. Plus, photos and restoration images here.


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