A look back at late 1990's graphic design and marketing via @graphicdesigner23

Taking a look back at late 90's graphic design and marketing styles

[This article relates to: 90's graphic design, dot com era, 90s typography.]

1. iBook Print Marketing
Our first look is at the iBook, a relative of the colorful iMac line of the late 90s. This clever piece mimicks the opening of an actual iBook, commencing the behavioral programming beforehand. Full scale graphics from beginning to end, with the screen inside the iBook touting the benefits of being able to get online with this machine.

90s graphic design styles

2. Yahoo 1999 Annual Report Postcard Book
This Yahoo postcard book was truly cool. Vintage photographs and illustrations, overlaid with that whimsical Yahoo narrative that was so refreshing in 1999. These were real postcards one could tear off and send in the mail. A piece that had the potential to keep marketing even afer the fact.

90s graphic design styles

3. Iomega Zip Drive
Anyone who bought an Iomega Zip Drive in the late 90s probably received a free sticker pack that helped label Zip disks. They covered a wide range of uses, and incorporated their brand signature "i". Labels included, "i am Accounting Stuff," "i am Neat Photos," and a favorite for any Beatles fan, "i am the Walrus." Unfortunately, many Zip drive owners started to experience the "click of death" soon after. If only they included an "i am obsolete" sticker.

90s graphic design styles

4. French Paper Company Print Brochure
in the late 90s, graphic designers were treated with phenomenal monthly mailers from the French Paper Company. These spiral-bound gems showed off not only the latest stock from FPC, but the different print processes that designers could apply to them, like metallic ink, die cuts and embosses. Its great design and photography are a little dated, but still hold tremendous visual imapct.

90s graphic design styles

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5. Apple iMac, G3 Powermac, Studio Display Print Borchures
Classic mini-brochure takeaways that sat next to display products in retail outlets gave a quick rundown on various Apple products. It mimicked the full multi-page print ads running in magazines at the time. It was all classic minimalist design that remained timeless, except for one spread showing foreshortened photographs of different people looking up, which was a hot trend in 90s commercial photography.

90s graphic design styles