The Biggest Design Scandal of the 90s? | Jazz Cup Controversy, History, and the Maximalist Aesthetic скачать в хорошем качестве

The Biggest Design Scandal of the 90s? | Jazz Cup Controversy, History, and the Maximalist Aesthetic

Picture this – It’s a hot summer day, you’re 9 years old and just finished a serious bouncing session at your friend Kevin’s birthday party. Fresh out of the inflatable palace, your quest begins to find a refreshment to rehydrate and take another crack at the highest jump record. You approach the table that Kevin’s mom put out earlier that day, grab one of these bad boys, and fill it with bright red, room temperature Koolaid from a plastic jug that has been soaking there in the sun all day. After refilling yourself with food coloring and a healthy dose of micro plastics, you toss your cup in the waste bin and return to bouncing, completely unaware of the significance and nostalgia this simple pattern would hold for you one day. While some designs become famous due to significant aesthetic merit, innovation, or something of the sort, this simple crayon like mark became iconic to an entire generation through ubiquity and mass production. Its difficult to put a finger on why it became one of the best selling cups in history, but its likely due to the fact that it didn’t directly appeal to anyone. You might see that as a bad thing, but a cup that feels right at home at a girl or boys birthday party, a summer BBQ, or even by the office water cooler, has massive market potential. This is what ultimately landed this cup a spot in the heart of an entire generation’s childhood memories. So – where did this design come from? How did it end up on a cup to begin with? And why has this simple series of marks become so shrouded in controversy? Lets jump into it. The year was 1992, and the sweetheart cup company had just received another round of lack luster designs from the agency they had contracted to stylize their cups. Each one was either not what they were looking for, or far too complex for their simple, cost effective printing process. In the midst of the frustration, one of the executives had a brilliant idea. They would hold an internal contest to help design the next cup they would produce. This way, they would have people familiar with the printing process designing for them, and they could avoid paying any royalties to the designer as they were already salaried through the company, and therefore had no rights to anything they created on company time. Genius! After some discussion back and forth about the series of employee submissions, one cup design stood far above the rest in it’s ability to appeal to the masses, or just generally not offend anyone too drastically. The cup was also advantageous in terms of the printing process. Since it was a relatively organic design, it didn’t matter too much if one of the color prints was off one way or the other. No matter the situation, this design held up. It was on this historic day that the Jazz cup was born, and its legacy would begin. The design would begin to be sold on cups, but after seeing the success they quickly began to print the marks on other paper products. From plates, to bowls, and beyond, this design was everywhere and becoming next to impossible to be unfamiliar with. By 2002, the jazz design was the most popular out of any other design sold by the sweetheart cup company. It was hard to exist in this period and not run into this design on a nearly daily basis. It was plastered on just about every paper disposable available, and could be found in nearly any setting that called for such goods. Do you remember using this cup in your lifetime? If so what is your fondest, most nostalgic memory of it? I’d love to hear your answers below. The Jazz cup perfectly represented the 90s maximalist aesthetic, while remaining neutral enough to be enjoyed by the masses. While the direct inspiration for this design is relatively unknown, it certainly took notice of the general aesthetic of the era. With cartoons like rocket power and rugrats embracing a title sequence full of bright neon colors, whacky patterns, and contrasting textures, this cup felt right at home. It was certainly possible to be sipping out of a cup yourself, and see the same one being used on your favorite 90s sitcom! Company representative Kasey Skala had the following to say about the situation: "We searched high and low, but unfortunately we came up empty. With Dart's acquisitions of Sweetheart and Solo Cup, most of the historical information has been lost as those involved in the project are no longer with the company. As of now, our best assumption is that Gina was the original creator; however, we aren't able to confirm." Both designers hold strong to their claim of the design to this day, and the world may never know the full truth of the designs origins. Something about that fact just makes the story of this cup all that much more exciting to me. Instagram: @bctld Portfolio: productold.com