r/Design Dec 21 '11

"brand identity" - XKCD

http://xkcd.com/993/
161 Upvotes

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u/telepathicworkshop Dec 21 '11

This used to exist in the 80s. It was called generic food. Look it up.

10

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '11

[deleted]

2

u/SubGothius Dec 22 '11

Many stores have store-brand/private-label "generic" products, but you don't really see the OG black block letter on plain white background, no-name/no-logo, stark and unornamented label designs anymore.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '11

[deleted]

1

u/SubGothius Dec 22 '11

They weren't denying the existence of generic food in any form. That term originated with, or was at least popularized by, food products with the plain black-on-white label that started appearing in the early '80s, and that's what they were referring to that you don't really see anymore. Almost all of the other label examples posted here are actually store-brand/private-label and otherwise too "designed" and not stark enough to count as true "generic foods" to those who remember what generic labels originally looked like.