bad banana blog

Charge!

I'm heading off to the sunny beaches of Southern California. As my final post in a week or so, I leave you with this 1968 Dr. Pepper commercial featuring all kinds of delightful beach shenanigans. (If somebody could please explain the superimposed type at the 0:42 point, I would appreciate it.)

Bach's Regal Logo

Friday is the 323rd anniversary of Johann Sebastian Bach's birth. To many, J.S. Bach was to music what Shakespeare was to English literature and Isaac Newton was to physics. Take a moment to listen to some of his timeless music this weekend (much of which, amazingly, was considered a bit old-fashioned in its day). Also, take a moment to admire his beautiful logo. The middle graphic above is the seal he used to mark all of his personal papers and compositions. It contains the letters JSB superimposed over their mirror image, as shown in the bottom graphic. Gorgeous.

Inspired Supermarkets

MPRIES is a family-owned supermarket chain in Austria who understands the value of good design. Instead of using the same, generic blueprints for each new store, MPRIES hires up and coming architects to create site-specific plans. Each store is unique, with an unusual attention to detail inside and out. Inspiring.

Via Quipsologies.

A World of Beer

Nice work for the Sunset Grill and Tap from Arnold Worldwide, Boston.

Via Ads of the World.

Facade Vase

Made out of industrial wool felt, the Facade Vase slips over a standard water bottle to create a classic, vase shape. Created by Orca Design.

Via Swiss Miss.

Chocolate Skittles

Freaking hilarious.

Little Stories

Self-taught, Atlanta-based photographer Erin Tyner brings a decidedly low-tech approach to her Half Awake series. The miniature scenes are made from items found in her junk drawer. Cotton balls become clouds. Sandpaper becomes dirt. And tiny little dolls become the central figures of open-ended stories. Tyner's photos are available for purchase at her Etsy store.

Via Trend Insiders.

Victorian Advertising Cards

Advertising trade cards reached the peak of their popularity in the 1880s and 1890s. According to the Miami University Libraries, the rise of magazine publishing led to the ultimate demise of this uniquely American form of advertising.

Via Bibliodyssey.

Twitter Explained

I know a lot of people just don't get Twitter. If that includes you, perhaps this Commoncraft video will help explain what Twitter is and why it appeals to some of us. Personally, I value Twitter for a variety of reasons, some of which are explained in the video. But here's a professional reason. Oftentimes, when I'm percolating on an idea or two, I'll jump into my Twitter stream and just see what happens. While my subconscious continues to chug along, I scan various tweets, click through to links, see what other people are doing and thinking about, and then WHAM! A word, a phrase, a thought spins my brain into a totally new direction. Over the past year, I can think of quite a few ideas directly generated or made better through this use of Twitter. I'm talking client work, not just creative play. As a person who must create on deadline, one of my jobs is to keep my radar up for any source of inspiration. Right now, Twitter is one of my favorite tools for doing so.
    Of course, if you're going to take from Twitter, you better be prepared to add something. I find that aspect of Twitter creatively stimulating, as well. Already on Twitter? Please feel free to add me.

Video via Greg Verdino.

Face to Face

In her new book, The Somnambulists, Edinburgh-based photographer Joanna Kane offers up a series of beautiful but haunting portraits. Haunting, because the portraits are of life and death masks cast more than 150 years ago. There's something fascinating about these intimate photos of people who lived before the invention of photography. Even more fascinating, some of the subjects are famous by name but not face. From top to bottom, that's John Keats, William Blake, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and William Wordsworth. Images from The Somnambulists are currently on display at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery through April 4.

Via Creative Review.