The charm of early branding
A civil engineer by trade, my (now deceased) father-in-law held on to various small items and containers passed on to him from his family. Many of these items would have been called heirlooms. But in a certain category of them, early branding seemed to be a thread. It had been determined (by his research?) that in time, these items would increase in value — and so they have.
Thanks to him, a few of these items are now in my possession.
Value for me lies in the early ‘modern’ branding expression applied to these now vintage packages. The simplicity of message, the stylistic leanings, and the use of occasional humor create a unique sense of charm found in this era of branding.
Not surprisingly, revival or at least appropriation of this early branding can often be seen today, from restaurant identities to athletic shoes to software companies.
Oh, and did I say how much I love these? The typography makes me giddy. The colors are sublime, and the packaging overall tells me stories far bigger than the original branding messages.