I know full well that many of you could care very little about my week (and rightfully so – just drop some music and design knowledge on me already – right?) But you aren’t manning the keys so suck up a little context for a moment. Taxes always wipe me out, even though I always get a return. Starting my own firm makes that a serious juggling act next year though, and that was obvious in the numbers. Buried in my book deadline and pulling all-nighters that I just can’t do any longer and just when you think I am holding a weak ass pity party – a kid is abducted from my daughter’s school. Luckily it was halted right away and no one left the parking lot, but it shook me to the very core. I can’t even pretend to be “okay” in any way with it. It is all over the news so I won’t add any detail other than to say that it was a parent of another child who was legitimately in the building (which makes it more frightening) and she is arrested. Crazy. Crazy. Crazy. Scary.
The point being that I am late with the column which almost never happens and I have no interest in tearing anyone’s design or music apart which NEVER happens.
So I have taken a hint from a wonderful Shit Show thread started by Jason as well as another by Cale and decided on showcasing some of my favorite cereal packaging designs of the past with a few notes of praise. It will make me just a wee bit happy and that will have to be enough.
I will return to being a complete and utter hard ass next week cats and kittens. Promise.
Maypo would eventually be watered down but the original was kick ass. Check out this sign.
Kaboom started out as a sugar-blasting clown in the early 70s. (Don’t be fooled by all the vitamins!) A current version can be seen in Kill Bill vol. 1. This version is all innocence and gains major points for featuring a non-creepy clown – which seems virtually impossible.
This is the Wheat Chex Dragon. That’s right – even Wheat Chex had cool characters back in the day.
This is the ultimate in simple character/product incorporation for me. The actual cereal is featured in a novel way fully integrated with the figure and even with the type. The colors are kept to what is needed and the scheme and choice of a polar bear for their pants less spokescreature ties in perfectly with the product. What more could you ask for?
Mister Muscle only made it to test market but dig that directness in marketing image and copy! How many other cereals get a lead in line???
Sugar Crisp had a bunch of well illustrated takes before the “cool” bear came on the scene (which I am down with as well) but this one wins out for having the balls to run the name at the bottom – a major no no in food packaging.
I leave you with some Corn Crackos. Why? Because it is ridiculous from top to bottom – especially singing the ingredients. What’s not to love about that?
John Foster owns his very own design firm, Bad People Good Things and is the author of For Sale: Over 200 Innovative Solutions in Packaging Design (HOW), New Masters of Poster Design (Rockport), Maximum Page Design (HOW) as well as an upcoming collection of handmade graphics entitled Dirty Fingernails for Rockport and a monograph on Jeff Kleinsmith for Sub Pop Records.
Related:
i feel like the beauty of this week’s column has been lost on many. LOOK HERE EVERYONE!
April 16, 2009 at 3:27 pmI’m a big fan of the brand mascot, wish more products were runnin’ them
April 29, 2009 at 8:55 pmTHAT FIRST PICTURE BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF
Y O U (SMILE)
MICK
September 9, 2009 at 4:38 pm
I want a guitar that looks like a spoon with cereal in it.
April 16, 2009 at 3:23 pm