Blank VHS Tape Covers Were Actually Kind of Beautiful
Now that the last new VCR is about to be made, it's time to start appreciating the device and its medium-the humble VHS tape-from an historical and artistic perspective. Yes, that is possible.
VHS movies covers offered a new landscape for art, roughly 11" x 8".The VHS cover became a mainstay artform of the 80's and 90's, be it simple cardboard or a more elaborate plastic clamshell. You had a front, a back, and a spine to cover. Many commercial works, like the box for David Cronenberg's Videodrome, for example, sought to overwhelm and stand out.
Of course the covers for movies are visually arresting, but equally interesting are the utilitarian pieces. Blank VHS cassettes needed covers as well. Designers chose minimal designs for these, their choices often look more suited books or music than a video. This is where the Vault of VHS comes in handy, a bewildering and beautiful collection of designs that will make your chest tighten with pure nostalgia
There's a boatload more to check out more on Tumblr. Just be careful, your the next thing you know you'll be trying to find some blank tapes on eBay.
Source: Vault of VHS via CoDesign
