top of page

Utterly interesting

The Lost Art of Cassette Design

Daniel Holland
Feb 19, 2019
1 min read

Steve Vistaunet’s Pinterest is a treasure-trove of photos of exuberant cassette spine designs from the gilded age of the mix-tape, ranging from the hand-drawn to early desktop publishing experiments.

ree

ree

ree

ree

ree

ree

ree

Recent Posts

Collage featuring George Burchett, tattooist work, and business card. Vibrant colors and old photos highlight tattoo artistry history.

George Burchett: The Life and Work of the King of Tattooists

Puppet in a car window entertains cheerful kids running alongside. Brick and sandbags in the background. Text: Bil and Cora Baird’s Travels Through India.

Bil and Cora Baird’s Indian Adventure: When American Puppetry Met the Land of Storytellers

Collage of people in traditional attire with face paint, snowy background. Text reads "Martin Gusinde And The People of Tierra del Fuego."

Martin Gusinde and the Vanishing Worlds of Tierra del Fuego

George Burchett: The Life and Work of the King of Tattooists

Collage featuring George Burchett, tattooist work, and business card. Vibrant colors and old photos highlight tattoo artistry history.

Collage featuring George Burchett, tattooist work, and business card. Vibrant colors and old photos highlight tattoo artistry history.

Steel Grandpa and the Race Across Sweden: The Remarkable Ride of Gustaf Håkansson

Bearded man cycling in a race, wearing number 10 jersey, cheered by onlookers. Vintage black-and-white photo, Sweden, 1950s.

Bearded man cycling in a race, wearing number 10 jersey, cheered by onlookers. Vintage black-and-white photo, Sweden, 1950s.

The Communards and the long shadow of the Paris Commune of 1871

Collage featuring Paris Commune images: illustrations and a historic photo of crowds. Prominent text reads "The Communards and the long shadow of the Paris Commune of 1871."

Collage featuring Paris Commune images: illustrations and a historic photo of crowds. Prominent text reads "The Communards and the long shadow of the Paris Commune of 1871."

The St Brice’s Day Massacre of 1002: Æthelred, the Danes, and England’s Winter of Blood

Battle scene depicting warriors with swords, shields, and helmets in action. A central figure lifts a sword; text reads "The St Brice's Day Massacre of 1002." Fierce mood.

Battle scene depicting warriors with swords, shields, and helmets in action. A central figure lifts a sword; text reads "The St Brice's Day Massacre of 1002." Fierce mood.

Bil and Cora Baird’s Indian Adventure: When American Puppetry Met the Land of Storytellers

Puppet in a car window entertains cheerful kids running alongside. Brick and sandbags in the background. Text: Bil and Cora Baird’s Travels Through India.

Puppet in a car window entertains cheerful kids running alongside. Brick and sandbags in the background. Text: Bil and Cora Baird’s Travels Through India.

Michael Dillon: The Doctor Who Became The First Trans Man In Surgery And The First Western Monk At Rizong

Collage of Michael Dillon photos in various outfits over newspaper clippings. Text reads: From Oxford scholar to Buddhist monk.

Collage of Michael Dillon photos in various outfits over newspaper clippings. Text reads: From Oxford scholar to Buddhist monk.

Martin Gusinde and the Vanishing Worlds of Tierra del Fuego

Collage of people in traditional attire with face paint, snowy background. Text reads "Martin Gusinde And The People of Tierra del Fuego."

Collage of people in traditional attire with face paint, snowy background. Text reads "Martin Gusinde And The People of Tierra del Fuego."

Music, Baseball and New Orleans Pride: Louis Armstrong’s Forgotten Team, the Secret Nine

Sepia-toned photo of a 1931 baseball team, "Armstrong's Secret 9." Players in uniforms, with bats. Text: "To my pal Lee, best wish from Little Joe Lindsey."

Sepia-toned photo of a 1931 baseball team, "Armstrong's Secret 9." Players in uniforms, with bats. Text: "To my pal Lee, best wish from Little Joe Lindsey."

Mona (Marilyn) Monroe – The $10 an Hour Pin Up Model Who Became a Legend

Collage of Marilyn Monroe posing in vintage photos, some in lingerie. Text reads "'Mona' Monroe Before She Became Marilyn." Retro vibe.

Collage of Marilyn Monroe posing in vintage photos, some in lingerie. Text reads "'Mona' Monroe Before She Became Marilyn." Retro vibe.

The Gunpowder Plot of 1605: How Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes Tried to Blow Up Parliament

Black-and-white image of children beside a masked figure. Text: "The Gunpowder Plot of 1605." Orange, purple portraits in foreground.

Black-and-white image of children beside a masked figure. Text: "The Gunpowder Plot of 1605." Orange, purple portraits in foreground.

A 'Man Amplifier' By Cornell Aeronautical Laboratories

A 'Man Amplifier' By Cornell Aeronautical Laboratories

A 'Man Amplifier' By Cornell Aeronautical Laboratories

The Day America Pretended a Hijacked Plane Had Landed in Cuba

Two men in a yellow plane cockpit; one holds a gun. Text reads "The Fake Cuban Airport Planned in Florida." Serious expressions.

Two men in a yellow plane cockpit; one holds a gun. Text reads "The Fake Cuban Airport Planned in Florida." Serious expressions.

Rat Poison, Cheating, Close Deaths, The Bonkers Story Of The 1904 Olympic Marathon In St. Louis

Rat Poison, Cheating, Close Deaths, The Bonkers Story Of The 1904 Olympic Marathon In St. Louis

Rat Poison, Cheating, Close Deaths, The Bonkers Story Of The 1904 Olympic Marathon In St. Louis

When Marilyn Went to War: The Story of Marilyn Monroe’s Visit to the Troops in Korea

Collage of Marilyn Monroe entertaining troops in Korea. She wears a purple dress and smiles. Background shows a large crowd and mountains.

Collage of Marilyn Monroe entertaining troops in Korea. She wears a purple dress and smiles. Background shows a large crowd and mountains.

Malcolm Campbell’s Leap to Three Hundred: How Blue Bird, Rolls Royce and an Obsession Turned Salt and Sand into Speed

Sir Malcolm Campbell in suit stands by vintage race car, with blue car illustration in background. Text reads: Sir Malcolm Campbell and his Blue Birds.

Sir Malcolm Campbell in suit stands by vintage race car, with blue car illustration in background. Text reads: Sir Malcolm Campbell and his Blue Birds.

The Making of The Godfather And The Uneasy Handshake Between Hollywood And The Mob

Two split images show an older man smiling and a man in a bloodied suit outdoors. Text reads, "Behind the Scenes of The Godfather."

Two split images show an older man smiling and a man in a bloodied suit outdoors. Text reads, "Behind the Scenes of The Godfather."

Cary Grant and Randolph Scott, A Quiet Love Story Hiding in Plain Sight

Collage of vintage photos showing two men in various poses and settings, including exercising, lounging, and standing by a pool. Text reads Cary Grant and Randolph Scott.

Collage of vintage photos showing two men in various poses and settings, including exercising, lounging, and standing by a pool. Text reads Cary Grant and Randolph Scott.

The Salpêtrière Hospital: The 19th Century Parisian Asylum That Shaped Modern Medicine and Misunderstood Women

Three vintage portraits of women with varied expressions. Text reads "The Salpêtrière Hospital." Monochrome aesthetic.

Three vintage portraits of women with varied expressions. Text reads "The Salpêtrière Hospital." Monochrome aesthetic.

Viale dei Martiri: The Tragic Legacy of the Bassano del Grappa Massacre

Sepia photo of a street with people walking. One carries a "Bandit" sign. Text reads "The Bassano del Grappa Massacre."

Sepia photo of a street with people walking. One carries a "Bandit" sign. Text reads "The Bassano del Grappa Massacre."

Napoleon’s Island Escape: How the Emperor of Elba Outwitted Europe

Framed painting of a figure in a hat on a cliff, gazing at the sea. Text: Napoleon's Island Escape. Ocean backdrop. Classic style.

Framed painting of a figure in a hat on a cliff, gazing at the sea. Text: Napoleon's Island Escape. Ocean backdrop. Classic style.

The Beast of Jersey: Edward Paisnel and the Masked Terror Who Haunted an Island

A masked figure stands with a newspaper headline "PAISNEL IS GUILT," beside "Edward Paisnel: The Beast of Jersey" text. Dark, eerie mood.

A masked figure stands with a newspaper headline "PAISNEL IS GUILT," beside "Edward Paisnel: The Beast of Jersey" text. Dark, eerie mood.

Training for the Moon: How Nine of the Twelve Apollo Astronauts Rehearsed Their Missions in Iceland

Astronauts training on a hill beside a bus in Iceland. Bright yellow sky, text: "When Apollo Astronauts Trained in Iceland."

Astronauts training on a hill beside a bus in Iceland. Bright yellow sky, text: "When Apollo Astronauts Trained in Iceland."

Halloween Traditions 1900 to 1930: Mischief, Costumes and Fortune-Telling Games

Vintage Halloween images from 1900-1930: kids in costumes with a man, two in animal masks on steps, and a person in a floral outfit. Text reads "Halloween Traditions 1900 to 1930."

Vintage Halloween images from 1900-1930: kids in costumes with a man, two in animal masks on steps, and a person in a floral outfit. Text reads "Halloween Traditions 1900 to 1930."

Amy Winehouse: The Camden Days Before the World Came Calling

Mural of a woman on a brick wall, with various images and a statue. Text reads "Amy Winehouse: The Camden Days." Flowers below. Moody urban setting.

Mural of a woman on a brick wall, with various images and a statue. Text reads "Amy Winehouse: The Camden Days." Flowers below. Moody urban setting.

The Kray Twins Myth: Why Britain Still Romanticises Ruthless Gangsters

The Kray Twins Myth: Why Britain Still Romanticises Ruthless Gangsters

The Kray Twins Myth: Why Britain Still Romanticises Ruthless Gangsters

Goldie Williams: The Defiant Face of Vagrancy, Race, and Respectability in 1890s America

Black-and-white photo of a woman in a hat making a playful face. Overlay text: "The Story of Goldie Williams and Race in 1890s America."

Black-and-white photo of a woman in a hat making a playful face. Overlay text: "The Story of Goldie Williams and Race in 1890s America."

When Hungary Rose: The 1956 Revolution and the Shadow of Soviet Rule

When Hungary Rose: The 1956 Revolution and the Shadow of Soviet Rule

When Hungary Rose: The 1956 Revolution and the Shadow of Soviet Rule

From Rags to Riches: The Story of Sarah Rector Americas Youngest Oil Millionaire

Vintage collage featuring three women posing, an old car, and a map. Text reads "The Story of Sarah Rector, America's Youngest Oil Millionaire."

Vintage collage featuring three women posing, an old car, and a map. Text reads "The Story of Sarah Rector, America's Youngest Oil Millionaire."

The Untold Story of the Great Emu War: When Australia Took on Its Most Unlikely Enemy

Vintage photo of a soldier with an emu head next to emu herd image. Text reads: "The Great Emu War: When Australia Declared War On The Flightless Bird... And Lost."

Vintage photo of a soldier with an emu head next to emu herd image. Text reads: "The Great Emu War: When Australia Declared War On The Flightless Bird... And Lost."

The Ancient Roots of Technocracy: How the World’s First Bureaucrats Ruled Before Kings

A pyramid with people around it on a gear backdrop. Text reads, "The Ancient Roots of Technocracy." Mood is mysterious.

A pyramid with people around it on a gear backdrop. Text reads, "The Ancient Roots of Technocracy." Mood is mysterious.

Pretty Boy Floyd: The Folk Outlaw of the Great Depression

Black-and-white photo of a man with a mugshot style image. Background shows a vintage criminal record. Text: "Pretty Boy Floyd: the folk outlaw of the Great Depression."

Black-and-white photo of a man with a mugshot style image. Background shows a vintage criminal record. Text: "Pretty Boy Floyd: the folk outlaw of the Great Depression."

Julia Margaret Cameron: The Queen of Victorian Portraiture Who Saw Beauty in the Blur

Three sepia portraits by Julia Margaret Cameron, with a title: "The Queen of Victorian Portraiture" in the center.

Three sepia portraits by Julia Margaret Cameron, with a title: "The Queen of Victorian Portraiture" in the center.

Peter Fleming: The Adventurer, Spy, and Writer Who Inspired James Bond

Collage featuring a man in different settings: in fur coat, with pipe, holding a bird. Text: "Peter Fleming: The Adventurer, Spy, and Writer Who Inspired James Bond."

Collage featuring a man in different settings: in fur coat, with pipe, holding a bird. Text: "Peter Fleming: The Adventurer, Spy, and Writer Who Inspired James Bond."

John DeLorean: The Dreamer Who Built the Future and Fell Into a Trap

A couple stands by a DeLorean with gull-wing doors open in a desert. Headlines mention "John DeLorean: Cars, Cocaine and Cash." Monochrome face on left.

A couple stands by a DeLorean with gull-wing doors open in a desert. Headlines mention "John DeLorean: Cars, Cocaine and Cash." Monochrome face on left.

The Predator Next Door: The Real Story of Robert Berchtold and Jan Broberg

Collage of a smiling family and an older photo of a man hugging a girl. Text: "Robert Berchtold, who kidnapped his neighbors’ daughter twice."

Collage of a smiling family and an older photo of a man hugging a girl. Text: "Robert Berchtold, who kidnapped his neighbors’ daughter twice."

Mathias Rust: The Teen Pilot Who Landed in Red Square

Group of people near a small plane in Red Square, with historical architecture in background. Text: Mathias Rust: The Teen Pilot.

Group of people near a small plane in Red Square, with historical architecture in background. Text: Mathias Rust: The Teen Pilot.

Kirsty MacColl, Cozumel, and a Family’s Long Fight for Justice

People in dark clothing appear against an ocean backdrop. Text reads: "The Death of Kirsty MacColl and Guillermo González Nova's Involvement." Mood is somber.

People in dark clothing appear against an ocean backdrop. Text reads: "The Death of Kirsty MacColl and Guillermo González Nova's Involvement." Mood is somber.

The Colosseum After the Gladiators: From Blood and Sand to Sanctuary and Stone

“An Interior View of the Colosseum, Rome,” undated (John Warwick Smith)

“An Interior View of the Colosseum, Rome,” undated (John Warwick Smith)

Vera Coking vs Donald Trump: The Widow Who Wouldn’t Sell Her Home

Older woman in sunglasses and suit gestures peace sign. Younger man in suit poses confidently. Background shows a building and "Trump Plaza" sign. Text: "The Stubborn Woman Who Fought Trump and Won Back in 1997."

Older woman in sunglasses and suit gestures peace sign. Younger man in suit poses confidently. Background shows a building and "Trump Plaza" sign. Text: "The Stubborn Woman Who Fought Trump and Won Back in 1997."

Ivan Aivazovsky and His Miniature Masterpieces: The Romantic Painter Who Turned Self-Promotion into Art

Eight images show Ivan Aivazovsky seated next to framed seascapes. Text: "Ivan Aivazovsky and His Miniature Masterpieces."

Eight images show Ivan Aivazovsky seated next to framed seascapes. Text: "Ivan Aivazovsky and His Miniature Masterpieces."

Grace McDaniels: The Remarkable Life of the “Mule-Faced Woman” Who Made a Living in the Sideshows of America

A collage showing a woman with a unique facial feature, historical photos, and a yellow poster. Text: "Grace McDaniels: The Remarkable Life..."

A collage showing a woman with a unique facial feature, historical photos, and a yellow poster. Text: "Grace McDaniels: The Remarkable Life..."

The Death of Nancy Spungen And The Final Hours Of Sid Vicious

Collage showing punk culture; includes mugshot, headline about a murder accusation, a couple embracing in leather, and artistic photos.

Collage showing punk culture; includes mugshot, headline about a murder accusation, a couple embracing in leather, and artistic photos.

Beneath the Surface: Bruce Mozert and the Playful World of Underwater Photography

Underwater scene with a man mowing seagrass and a woman swimming; another man and woman converse by a window, seated on a chair.

Underwater scene with a man mowing seagrass and a woman swimming; another man and woman converse by a window, seated on a chair.

Sultana Chand Bibi: The Warrior Queen Who Defied the Mughals

Sultana Chand Bibi: The Warrior Queen Who Defied the Mughals

Sultana Chand Bibi: The Warrior Queen Who Defied the Mughals

The Assassination of Spencer Perceval: The Only British Prime Minister Ever Murdered

Historic illustration of Spencer Perceval's assassination by John Bellingham. Perceval in shock, Bellingham armed. Crowd and documents visible.

Historic illustration of Spencer Perceval's assassination by John Bellingham. Perceval in shock, Bellingham armed. Crowd and documents visible.

Jenny Barkmann: The “Beautiful Spectre” of Stutthof Concentration Camp

A woman stands in front of a large pile of shoes, looking somber. Vintage newspaper headlines about trials and tortures are visible.

A woman stands in front of a large pile of shoes, looking somber. Vintage newspaper headlines about trials and tortures are visible.

The Night John Lennon Lost a Bet and Elton John Made Him Sick: Resulting in Lennon's Final Stage Performance

A collage of Elton John and John Lennon having fun

A collage of Elton John and John Lennon having fun

When Henry Ford Received the Grand Cross of the German Eagle from Nazi Officials, 1938

Monochrome image of three men, one receiving a medal. Text reads: "When Henry Ford Received the Grand Cross of the German Eagle, 1938."

Monochrome image of three men, one receiving a medal. Text reads: "When Henry Ford Received the Grand Cross of the German Eagle, 1938."

Adeline Watkins: The Woman Who Claimed to Love Ed Gein

Black and white portraits of a woman and a man with a snowy house backdrop. Red and blue accents. Text: "Adeline Watkins: The Woman Who Claimed to Love Ed Gein." Mood: somber.

Black and white portraits of a woman and a man with a snowy house backdrop. Red and blue accents. Text: "Adeline Watkins: The Woman Who Claimed to Love Ed Gein." Mood: somber.

1/23

bottom of page