Advertising | 1950s - 1970s Set

This fabulous set of 1950s - 1970s advertisements (posters, magazine ads, booklets, etc.) on Flickr is both fascinating and inspiring. Some of the ads are dated from a social perspective, but the design and much of the writing remains timeless and iconic.

Like this ad from Volkswagon ...



... I don't think its correct to use Native American stereotypes when selling cars anymore (thus the dated part of the ad) but overall the ad is striking and compelling. If I could write copy a fraction as 0s succinct, elegant, fluid and sharp as what's on this ad, I'd be a happy copywriter.

And this ad, from the Italian Art Directors' Club ...



... is not just visually a treat, but understandable to anyone, regardless of their mother tongue.

I think very often advertising creatives lose sight of the main task at hand -- communication. Deciding what needs to be said, and saying it -- through words, pictures or both -- as simply, singularly and memorably as possible.

These are old ads, but will you remember them? I will.

Blog | Ace Jet 170

I've really been enjoying design blog Ace Jet 170, especially for its devotion to found type and graphic images, all nicely collected in sets that showcase a the fine craftsmanship of these various disciplines, in all their slightly vintage glory. Such as this collection of stamps, shown above.

Video | Sesame Street | Classics

A friend turned me on to the awesome amount of old Sesame Street clips on You Tube. I haven't watched Sesame Street since a lot of these made their original television appearance, but they're all brilliantly inspired -- funny enough for adults while (I guess) teaching kids how to read. Hey, it worked for me, right?


My current fav -- how I still feel about food to this day.


Cookie Monster at the disco, spoofing Isaac Hayes' theme from Shaft. "Cookie? Me so 'ooooongreeee."

And this, while not from Sesame Street but the equally brilliant Muppet Show, remains one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

How I love Animal. *Sigh*