Handlettered department store logos

Have you ever visited a department store just to admire their graphic design? Me neither. But I might have done that if I was born 50 years earlier. Just look at the images above. Wow. And those are just their logos. Imagine what their posters, folders, price tags, receipts, etc. must have looked like.



Today, most department stores’ identities, like Macy’s, look like they’re calculated instead of designed. Nowadays a lot of designs seem to be products of marketing research. They all seem to answer the question:“How to design something that won’t offend anyone.” Probably the reason why there are so many middle-of-the-road, mediocre logos.



Only a few department stores with a handlettered logo are left, like Neiman Marcus and Lord & Taylor. I wish there were more of them. During the research for this article I’ve encountered a lot of great store interiors and graphic design. I hate shopping, but I’m not sure that would be the case if I was born 50 years earlier.



