Bridget Butch, or you might also know her as the always entertaining BB-Blog, is an information architect at Hanson Dodge Creative in Milwaukee. “I love art and design. And reading. And funny things. And very giant or very tiny things. And I think the world needs more pandas, cheese [soft and/or hard] and robots.” If you don’t already love her, you’ll fall in love shortly. Just read on…
When Jaime asked me to pick five things that I’d like to share, I was practically paralyzed. How do I pick just FIVE things??
When you work in web design AND blog, you are painfully aware – every day – that there are millions of little tiny interwebby hands ready to reach into your pockets and take all your money. Every. Single. Day. So, the first way I avoid buying everything I see is by putting it on my blog. [That way, someone else can buy it, or I can delude myself that I’m going to win the lottery and buy everything I’ve posted.] Second, I look for places that actually offer unique graphics that don’t cost a fortune. Since I love vintage design, I decided to share a few of my favorite places to look for vintage prints. Clap your eyes on these, my friends, and be delighted. [I hope.]
1. PLAN 59 :: The Retro Graphics Archive
I come back to this site over and over again. It’s bursting at the seams with 1950s and 60s advertising prints. Extra points for: surreal colors, bizarre type, quaint-and-often-not-quite-acceptable sentiments and the type of in-your-face marketing you seldom see anymore.
Pictured above from Plan 59: American Meat Institute, 1946 [left] 1954 Oldsmobile [right]
2. Vintagraph
An amazing selection of vintage designs, all at equally amazing prices. I’m particularly in love with their prints of patent illustrations and public service posters.
Pictured above from Vintagraph: Be Kind to Books Club – WPA Poster, 1940 [left] The World’s Best Design for a Barbecue Stand – Patent Design, 1933 [right]
3. Movieposter.com
Admittedly, the prices on this site are all over the board. But if you love vintage film posters, they have an incredible selection. Below are some Cary Grant posters that make my heart all fluttery. [Oh, Cary… why was I born too late? I could have snapped Dyan Cannon like a twig.]
Pictured above from movieposter.com: Charade [left] Indiscreet [right]
4. Allposters.com
I avoided this site for years because I thought it was just a place you bought posters for your dorm room. I was happy to discover that you just have to dig a little to find some fabulous vintage posters and prints.
Pictured above from allposters.com: Mon Oncle [left] L’Ete a Monte Carlo [right]
5. FFFFOUND!
FFFFOUND! is a treasure trove of images that you can print out and frame for your own private use. Here are two things that I’ve printed for my own walls. They may not be to everyone’s taste, but that’s the beauty of FFFFOUND! – whatever your taste, there’s something there.
Pictured above from FFFFOUND!: Steve Mack’s Spot Illustration [Okay, it’s not vintage, but it’s vintage-y.] [left] Boy With Chicken [right]
You can find the rest of my FFFFOUND! picks here.