If you appreciate the design of ephemera such as posters, postage stamps, and matchbook covers, you will also appreciate the design of luggage labels. As with most great design, making something that looks simple often takes the most doing.
Above you see a tiny sampling of a very large, very impressive collection of luggage labels assembled by graphic designer Tom Schifanella. Generally speaking, the collection represents labels designed between 1900 and the 1960s. There is so much to learn here. So much inspiration. The best of these tell a story and give you a real sense of place.
The entire collection is located on flickr.com and is titled Art of the Luggage Label…
An interview with Tom Schifanella about his collection…
Another connoisseur, Joao-Manuel Mimoso, offers this history…
Joao-Manuel Mimoso’s luggage label page index…
Tom Schifanella is a partner of the Shepherd Agency…
And a world-class photographer…
Image used with permission: Tom Schifanella.
Posted in SEPTEMBER 2020 / Chuck Green is the principal of Logic Arts, a design and marketing firm, a contributor to numerous magazines and websites, and the author of books published by Random House, Peachpit Press, and Rockport Publishers. All rights reserved. Copyright 2007-2020 Chuck Green/Logic Arts Corporation. Contact.
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