Design

The Binder Clip: An Appreciation

Seriously, is there anything this brilliant piece of design can’t do?

Mar 20 •

Deconstructing “Folded” Logos

Can you recognize an iconic corporate logo when it’s broken down into its most basic shape? Plus a new Inconspicuous News Roundup.

Mar 14 •

Let’s Check Out Some Cool Old Business Letters and Invoices

Each one provides a peek into a distinct little industry-specific world.

Feb 28 •

A Very Unusual Traffic Light, and Some Additional Roadway Oddities

As we continue to discover, standardized highway signs and signals aren't always so standardized after all.

Feb 20 •

The Amazing Variety of Parcheesi Board Designs

The popular game’s board has been rendered in a near-endless series of design variations over the years. Plus: The debut of the Inconspicuous News…

Jan 30 •

The Pleasures of Vintage Billheads

You probably know about letterhead, but do you know about billheads? Let’s take a closer look.

Jan 7 •

A Deep Dive on Air Mail Envelope Design

We all know what an air mail envelope looks like — or do we?

Dec 30, 2024 •

A deep dive on the surprisingly wide stylistic range of “Fig.” notations on patent drawings.

Dec 18, 2024 •

☞ Bonus Post: A Deep Dive on Non-Postal Pointing Hands ☜

This symbol already had a long, rich history well before the advent of rubber-stamped “Return to Sender” graphics.

Dec 11, 2024

☞ A Deep Dive on the “Return to Sender” Pointing Hand ☜

This familiar symbol has featured a surprising number of design variations over the years.

Dec 10, 2024

The Very Strange Exit Signs on the New Jersey Turnpike

An extensive Inconspicuous Consumption investigation into some highly unusual highway sign graphics.

Oct 29, 2024 •

A Masterpiece of Package Design

This vintage 1940s product is even more magnificent than it appears at first glance.

Oct 15, 2024 •

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