December 28, 2012

Visual Vocab: C is for... Cat

Hey readers! Ashley here with our recurring column, Visual Vocab — in which Dawn and I search the internet for the best visual inspiration based upon a randomly selected word. Naturally, we follow along with the letters of the alphabet, and we've already brought you the letters A and B. That means today we're coming at you with the letter C. I'm sure it won't come as a huge surprise that the C word we chose is "Cat". We're clearly proud cat ladies.

C is for… Cat: [/kat/] • noun

a small domesticated, carnivorous mammal with soft fur, a short snout, and retractile claws. It is widely kept as a pet or for catching mice, and many breeds have been developed.
(particularly among jazz enthusiasts) a person, especially a man.

HISTORY OF CATS IN DESIGN

The history of cats in design dates all the way back to the Egyptian Empire where cats were considered sacred and often depicted in Egyptian artifacts as symbols of grace and poise. Since then, cats have been featured prominently in the design of many cultures throughout history. Some well-known examples include the "good luck" cat originating in Japan, also appearing in Chinese culture, that still sits in the window of many shops to welcome customers and bring good fortune. The Art Nouveau "Le Chat Noir" poster, created by Théophile Steinlen in 1896 advertising a tour of Parisian cabaret entertainers, can still be found adorning the walls of wineries and bookstores. Then, there's the famous novelty Kit-Cat Klock that was once a staple in many kitchens throughout the 40s and 50s – a clock that proudly displays the time in my kitchen today. [caption id="attachment_3008" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] History of Cats in Design

Egyptian bronze statue of the cat goddess Bastet • A Maneki-neko (Japanese "good luck" cat) • Théophile Steinlen's 1896 poster "Le Chat Noir" • Original model Kit-Cat Klock from the 1940s[/caption]

CATS TODAY

Currently, it seems cats are more popular than ever. The internet is exploding with memes and gifs featuring hovering cats, grumpy cats, cats with laser eyes, cats playing keyboards, cats working, cats falling, cats wearing mittens, cats getting stuck in boxes... I could go on and on. However, I'm not here to share cat memes, I'm here to bring you visual design inspiration. So, let's get on with it! Here are some stellar examples of cats being used in design today.

VISUAL VOCAB: C IS FOR... CAT

[caption id="attachment_3010" align="aligncenter" width="683"]

Adult Swin Comic Con Cat Tapestry Brochure by Joseph Veazey[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3020" align="aligncenter" width="670"]

The Loop Magazine Illustration by Mathildeaubier Theloop[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3011" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

Cats on Shelves Print by Boyoun Kim[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3012" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]

Forgotton Boardwalk Brewing Packaging by Perky Bros[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3013" align="aligncenter" width="564"]

One Love Cat Food Packaging Design by Magic Creative[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3014" align="aligncenter" width="500"]

Poster Brochure of the To Dream of Edgar Allan Poe Festival organized by the Musee d'Orsay[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3015" align="aligncenter" width="564"]

Neenah Hangtag by Design Army[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3021" align="aligncenter" width="564"]

Mad Cat Brewery Branding by Sand Creative[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3016" align="aligncenter" width="510"]

Gatto Morto Tales of Ordinary Deaths book design by Elena Leoni[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3017" align="aligncenter" width="494"]

Cats the Musical Poster by Jamey Christoph[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3018" align="aligncenter" width="562"]

El Felix Branding by Fivestar Branding Agency[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3019" align="aligncenter" width="564"]

Logo by mattmart02[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3022" align="aligncenter" width="564"]

Cat Treat Packaging by Sara Strand[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3023" align="aligncenter" width="570"]

Yummy Print by Ben of the Assorted Print Shop[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3024" align="aligncenter" width="560"]

Woonya Stationary & Packaging by Unknown[/caption] Well, that's all for now. We actually found so many amazing cat inspired designs that we couldn't fit them all in this one post. So, if you need more cat eye candy, be sure to check out our Visual Vocab Pinterest board. If you missed any of our previous Visual Vocab posts you can find them all here. Until next time, *Ashley's signature