Just a few more images from Berlin’s ultra-cool Museum of Things!
 
You can also see more great objects from the museum in this previous post.
 
 
[UPDATE]
 
You can also help out the museum by becoming a Dingpfleger (a caretaker/sponsor of a thing). For a small donation you can adopt one of their objects! For more information and to learn about becoming a Dingpfleger(in) have a look here (German).
 
Check out what we are sponsoring for 2010!
(And thanks to Dan Reynolds for the quote!)
(Even if it maybe, possibly, came with the tiniest bit of sarcasm.)
 

 
The “Vesper” Bahlsen Keksdose from 1923 over at the Museum der Dinge’s website

Oh my god Becky, seriously the Museum of Things (Museum der Dinge) is like totally the most raddest place in Berlin. If you thought the DDR Museum had some cool old stuff, then you will be blown away by all the junk at this place. It is a cross between a natural history museum, the Smithsonian, your grandma’s house, a garage sale, and a dump. It has an extensive collection of “things” from the 1800s through today – roughly sorted chronologically and also a bit categorically.


Its stockpile of ephemeral, everyday objects is amazing. Typoholics will find hours of pleasure simply staring at all the old logos and packaging. I ended up taking about 150 photos while managing to convince my friends I am nuts because of how overly excited I was.


For those of you who are maybe not impressed with *just* nice old type and objects, the museum has more attractions. There are also some big, powerful, loud, Mythbusteresque machines that smash, chop, stomp, and roll/crush/flatten. Visitors are invited to use the hydraulic beasts to annihilate some miscellaneous bric-a-brac. Mechanical thumps, shattering, screaming, and laughing can be heard echoing throughout the museum.


It is a great place. Plus there is a gift shop with some nice designer objects and some other old crap you can buy too!

Following up to the popular GDR packaging/branding post, we present here 20 more great vintage specimens.

]]> http://www.youshouldliketypetoo.com/showcase/packaging/vintage-german-design-lettering/feed/ 0 http://www.youshouldliketypetoo.com/showcase/packaging/packaging-in-the-gdr/ http://www.youshouldliketypetoo.com/showcase/packaging/packaging-in-the-gdr/#comments Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:03:29 +0000 Rob http://www.youshouldliketypetoo.com/?p=1742 Check out the pics!]]>

 

Commonly referred to as East Germany, the former German Democratic Republic existed from 1949-1990. During that period, a significant portion of Germany was virtually cut off from the rest of the world (at least from Capitalist societies). So what exactly was it like for those living behind the infamous wall?
 
Anyone interested in learning more about the GDR needs simply to check out the fascinating DDR Museum in Berlin. Visitors can interactively experience aspects of what life was like during that time through multi-media displays and many hands-on items. They illustrate everything from the education system to the Stasi to how people spent vacations. There are numerous samples of everyday items such as food and toiletry goods, clothes, and toys. The major headliners of the museum are the fully reconstructed kitchen & living room from a quintessential apartment and one of the famous Trabant cars. Both of those exhibits you can explore and play in.
 
However, of primary interest for all of us here are some superb typographic specimens! These typical* East German household objects have often been adorned with gorgeous lettering. The museum has much more to see and admire, these here are just a taste.
 
Next time you are in Berlin consider an excursion to check out a bit of former East German (life)style.
 
*Not all of these are necessarily “typical” items but could still be found (somewhere) in the GDR.