There is nothing more satisfying than nostalgia that does not bring up personal memories of the immediate past. Nostalgia is an illness. I prefer nostalgia that is an appreciation of how and what things were done in the past. This point-of-purchase display of a nicely dressed gent sitting by an outdoor table in a modernist chair on a plot of grass, ready to sip a high ball and puff a cigarette, is the epitome of ’30s advertising elegance. They just don’t make them like this anymore—either in real life or clay. (See more here.)
Representing the myth of a simpler, more stylish America.
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About Steven HellerSteven Heller is the co-chair of the SVA MFA Designer /Designer as Author + Entrepreneur program, writes frequently for Wired and Design Observer. He is also the author of over 170 books on design and visual culture. He received the 1999 AIGA Medal and is the 2011 recipient of the Smithsonian National Design Award.View all posts by Steven Heller →