Episode 77: Hey, Nice Package!
There are some products so iconic that you know what they are as soon as you lay your eyes on them. The color, the shape or some other distinctive brand feature says, “Accept no substitute. There is no equal.” Pour yourself a drink on the rocks, kick back against the bar and listen as we uncork the stories of the bottles from Coca-Cola and Absolut Vodka.
E X T R A S :
(Top to bottom): Earl Dean’s original bottle sketch for the Root Glass Company, the patent artwork for the Coca-Cola bottle, a visual timeline of the Coke bottle’s evolution, a contemporary soda fountain cup with the iconic bottle profile, one of Andy Warhol’s paintings highlighting what had become more than just a household name
(Top to bottom): The simple design of the Absolut Vodka bottle, the very first print ad that kicked off the bottle motif campaign, ad layouts for Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City, Warhol’s collaborative artwork for Absolut
Coca-Cola Bottle History
“The History of the Coca-Cola Contour Bottle” (Coca-Cola article)
“Package Deal: In 1915, Coca-Cola had many imitators. Then it designed a patented bottle nobody could copy.” (Retail Brew article)
Absolut Bottle History
“Package Deal: Before 1979, premium vodka bottles were tall and thin with colorful labels. Then Absolut changed everything.” (Retail Brew article)
Absolut Vodka’s own (short) bottle history article
Additional Articles
“Coke’s Logo Gets a Handmade Upgrade for Its New Ad” (Fast Company article)