Reach out and touch someone

Designed by David Seager in 1971 for the Mail Advertising Club. I don't know if someone is getting pulled inside the mailbox or pulled out of the mailbox, either way I should probably start mailing more hands.

BRIO catalog, 1980

I found this catalog in my parents' garage while I was home over Thanksgiving. BRIO is a Swedish toy company specializing in painted wooden toys, the kind that you'd envision Santa's elves to stay up late at night making. BRIO created a cohesive universe of cars, trucks, buildings, imitation household appliances, and, most importantly, trains, all swimming in bold colors and formed from solid, clunky shapes.




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Theme Park Maps

My buddy Sam Smith hipped me to this fantastic online collection of theme park maps. Pileup blog devotees know what a huge fan I am of theme park maps, so that I really enjoy this website should come as no surprise. Here are a few highlights...

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Great Adventure, 1974


Walt Disney World, 1979


Busch Gardens Old Country, 1976


Six Flags Great Adventure, 1980

Check out the Theme Park Maps website for much more.

Philately Fridays: Israel 1975

Three stamp set from Israel garnering support against pollution, specifically of the air, water, and noise varieties. I love the tiny illustrations in the lower tear-off portions which reference the larger graphics and show what a pollution-free environment would look like.

At the zoo

Great little logo for the Asahiyama Zoo in Hokkaido Japan, designed by Susumu Endo around 1967. It's perfect for this time of year - Minneapolis just had a little blast of snow last night and I feel like a reindeer could show up at any moment.

NY Subway Map, 1972

I was home over Thanksgiving and finally got around to snapping some photos of this vintage NY Subway map my Mom, a Brooklyn native, had held on to and then framed and hung up in our house. Maybe having this in our house growing up subconsciously inspired me as a graphic designer. Either way, this poster, designed by the late great Massimo Vignelli, has always been something I love seeing when I go visit my parents and something I enjoy more and more each time I see it.


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OPP: Emilio Ortega

Emilio Ortega, who reads So Much Pileup all the way over in Spain, sent me this fantastic poster image for a Spanish movie from 1969 entitled "Un Dos Tres, Al Escondité Inglés." The title is based on a children's game, which is similar to "Red Light, Green Light."

Philately Fridays: USA, 1977

Philately Fridays: Mexico, 1975

4 stamps from a huuuuge series created by Mexico in 1975 to celebrate their country's exports.

Things to do with Pens and Pencils

Folding packaging for Edding brand colored pens featuring stylish geometric explosions designed by J. Otto.



Star figure designed by Seldon Dix for an article on the US Bicentennial in Time Magazine.

Philately Fridays: USA, 1984

Here's a stamp honoring baseball legend Roberto Clemente. Enjoy!

Heinz Edelmann

Here are a couple of thangs from beloved Czech illustrator Heinz Edelmann, who passed away this summer. Most well known for bringing The Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" to life, Edelmann has a whole slew of fantastic work attributed to his name. To learn more about his life and work, read Graphis Magazine's tribute to Heinz Edelmann.


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Philately Fridays: Mexico, 1978

I love the subtle shading, bright colors, and real heavy geometry in these two stamps from Mexico. Very clever illustrations depicting the fusion of technology and international relations.

Didi

Toy designers, take note of this packaging design for Swiss company Didi's line of baby products. Designed by E. & U. Hiestand circa 1974ish.



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Philately Fridays: Uruguay, 1977

Hot use of overprinting and cool shapes in this stamp from Uruguay. Color economy!



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Country Club Fashions

I thought country clubs were way too haughty to get this psychedelic. Either way, these bag designs for Country Club Fashions, designed by the power team of Frazier and Hauge are really doin' it.



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David Weidman

Pileup reader John Ballon recently reminded me of illustrator David Weidman. Weidman worked as an animation artist with Hannah-Barbara before opening up a framing store in Los Angeles. There, he attempted to sell some of his gorgeous screenprinted posters but it seemed most of his customers were more interested in his frames! Years later, his artwork has been compiled into a book entitled The Whimsical Work of David Weidman. One look at his art and you can see how it still resonates with today's artists and illustrators.

















Check out this monstrous collection of Weidman's art on Flickr.

To see more and order original screenprints from David Weidman, visit weidmansart.com