http://www.ultraswank.net Retro Living and Design from the 50s, 60s and 70s Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:56:26 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.ultraswank.net/design/the-stylish-art-of-kevin-dart/ http://www.ultraswank.net/design/the-stylish-art-of-kevin-dart/#comments Tue, 06 Dec 2011 07:18:31 +0000 Guest http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3594 Stylish, bouncy, curvaceous, deadly – And she wants her panties back from old men who carry them in briefcases! “Yuki7 and the Gadget Girls” are the Mangaesque brainchildren of L.A. artist Kevin Dart. As books and animation Kevin and 14 other illustrators take you into a “fixties” style milieu of jazzy action and toned down [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/design/the-stylish-art-of-kevin-dart/feed/ 3 http://www.ultraswank.net/readable/burlesque-poster-design/ http://www.ultraswank.net/readable/burlesque-poster-design/#comments Thu, 01 Sep 2011 05:49:41 +0000 Baron von Swankenstein http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3431 Gypsy Rose Lee. Tempest Storm. Lily St. Cyr. If there’s one word associated with these famous women, it’s “burlesque.” In the modern sense of the word, burlesque was a popular form of theatrical variety show featuring risqué comedy, parody, and pastiche. When it was exported from Victorian England to the United States in the 1840s, [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/readable/burlesque-poster-design/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/film/saul-bass-%e2%80%93-title-designer/ http://www.ultraswank.net/film/saul-bass-%e2%80%93-title-designer/#comments Mon, 09 May 2011 05:51:36 +0000 Katharine Miller http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3281 When the opening credits for an Alfred Hitchcock film start rolling, it’s impossible to not be instantly captivated. The simple concept, bold graphics, and dynamic animations are all evidence of Saul Bass’s genius at work. Saul Bass began his career by designing print ads for movies. His first collaboration with director Otto Preminger was the [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/film/saul-bass-%e2%80%93-title-designer/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/film/maurice-binder-title-designer/ http://www.ultraswank.net/film/maurice-binder-title-designer/#comments Mon, 21 Feb 2011 07:00:30 +0000 Katharine Miller http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3111 The name’s Binder, Maurice Binder. You may not recognize the name but you’d know his work if you saw it. The opening sequence of James Bond looking down a gun barrel is one of the most iconic moments in film history. Through saturated colours and tantalizing silhouettes, Maurice Binder created the most memorable, eye-catching title [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/film/maurice-binder-title-designer/feed/ 6 http://www.ultraswank.net/event/century-21-seattle-worlds-fair-1962/ http://www.ultraswank.net/event/century-21-seattle-worlds-fair-1962/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 08:44:38 +0000 Katharine Miller http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3004 Let’s climb aboard the Alweg Monorail in Downtown Seattle and take a trip back to the 1962 World’s Fair: Man in the Space Age. The Century 21 Exposition brought the first World’s Fair in North America since 1940 and the United States was eager to demonstrate its new ideas and advancements in technology, science and [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/event/century-21-seattle-worlds-fair-1962/feed/ 3 http://www.ultraswank.net/design/keeping-up-with-the-future/ http://www.ultraswank.net/design/keeping-up-with-the-future/#comments Thu, 09 Dec 2010 06:59:23 +0000 Amy Thyr http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2902 With all the running around preparing for the holidays and shopping for that perfect gift, I always find myself exhausted by New Year’s and once again… no new calendar! Usually by the time I get around to getting one I’ve missed at least January. But not this year! I’ve found some gorgeous mid-century modern calendars [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/design/keeping-up-with-the-future/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/cruisin%e2%80%99-to-the-wich-stand/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/cruisin%e2%80%99-to-the-wich-stand/#comments Wed, 24 Nov 2010 06:51:23 +0000 Amy Thyr http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2839 The origins of “Googie” design can be traced back to the actual coffee shop designed by architect John Lautner and by the works of his contemporaries. Appearing first in commercial buildings and used primarily in designing restaurants, coffee shops, motels, gas stations and bowling alleys, as well as schools, churches, shopping centers and airline terminals, [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/cruisin%e2%80%99-to-the-wich-stand/feed/ 2 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/memories-modernism-and-our-concepts-of-a-misremembered-future/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/memories-modernism-and-our-concepts-of-a-misremembered-future/#comments Wed, 03 Nov 2010 06:49:15 +0000 Amy Thyr http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2771 The recent exhibit of Deborah Aschheim’s drawings and architectural installations at Edward Cella A+A focused attention to the iconic modernist landmarks of Southern California that once represented the future. Aschheim’s works documented these structures, once the symbols of Southern California’s utopian dreams, which are now forlorn, crumbling commercial towers, buildings, and centers. Treated for the [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/memories-modernism-and-our-concepts-of-a-misremembered-future/feed/ 2 http://www.ultraswank.net/interior/playboy-inspired-home-lounge/ http://www.ultraswank.net/interior/playboy-inspired-home-lounge/#comments Mon, 28 Jun 2010 05:47:43 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2570 Taking its inspiration from the original Playboy Club, located in downtown Chicago, this DIY built music wall is not only a homage to the electronic entertainment wall that was installed at the Chicago club in 1964 but also takes it one step further by enhancing it with modern technology. The designer was determined to have [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/interior/playboy-inspired-home-lounge/feed/ 2 http://www.ultraswank.net/ultra-swank/version-five-is-all-about-user-friendliness/ http://www.ultraswank.net/ultra-swank/version-five-is-all-about-user-friendliness/#comments Tue, 04 May 2010 23:04:51 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2403 Time again for changes here at Ultra Swank. This is the forth major revision of the website since its launch in 2005. This time I have focused primarily in usability, speed and presentation of the content. Both images and videos are now displayed much bigger than before and if there are additional images, they are [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/ultra-swank/version-five-is-all-about-user-friendliness/feed/ 2 http://www.ultraswank.net/design/the-world-of-googie/ http://www.ultraswank.net/design/the-world-of-googie/#comments Mon, 03 May 2010 05:16:36 +0000 James Vaughan http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2325 It was with reluctance that I took on Ultra Swank’s assignment of a segment on Googie design. I am not an expert. Art historians and critics can be a vicious group. One false move and I could be forever condemned to an underworld of Louis the XIV basement rec. rooms accented with a million velvet [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/design/the-world-of-googie/feed/ 2 http://www.ultraswank.net/advertising/future-forcaster-radebaugh/ http://www.ultraswank.net/advertising/future-forcaster-radebaugh/#comments Mon, 19 Apr 2010 05:45:01 +0000 James Vaughan http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2074 “Closer Than We Think!” shouts the headline. It looks like a comic and probably ran in the funnies section of the Sunday Chicago Tribune and it’s affiliates. During the late 1950′s and early 1960′s artist Arthur Radebaugh forecast a soon to be techno-future of magical and fantastic innovation. As a regular feature in widespread newspaper [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/advertising/future-forcaster-radebaugh/feed/ 1 http://www.ultraswank.net/film/documentary-about-space-age-inspired-design/ http://www.ultraswank.net/film/documentary-about-space-age-inspired-design/#comments Tue, 30 Mar 2010 05:22:52 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2042 Atomic Lounge is a 90 minute documentary that looks back at the Space-Age inspired architecture, design, fashion, and lifestyle of post-WWII America. The film will explore the conditions that led to a unique time in history when Americans experienced a dual sense of optimism for the future and fear of impeding nuclear holocaust. This period [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/film/documentary-about-space-age-inspired-design/feed/ 7 http://www.ultraswank.net/design/barbie-loves-mad-men/ http://www.ultraswank.net/design/barbie-loves-mad-men/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:59:40 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2001 The first Barbie doll was launched in around the same period as the award winning television show Mad Men depicts. So what could be better than to combine the two and release a special Mad Men collectors series for adults. Here’s a fun chance to act out what adventures could happen with Don Draper, his [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/design/barbie-loves-mad-men/feed/ 3 http://www.ultraswank.net/design/return-of-the-retro-kitchen-appliances/ http://www.ultraswank.net/design/return-of-the-retro-kitchen-appliances/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:14:02 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1991 American company Big Chill came up with the brilliant idea of launching a line of kitchen appliances that have modern functionality, efficiency and dependability but that look like they are straight out of the 50s. If you always wanted that pink retro kitchen, here’s your chance – with the added bonus that you don’t have [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/design/return-of-the-retro-kitchen-appliances/feed/ 5 http://www.ultraswank.net/travel/on-board-a-747-with-pan-american-airlines/ http://www.ultraswank.net/travel/on-board-a-747-with-pan-american-airlines/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:00:15 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1948 Boeing 747, also known as the jumbo jet was first introduced in 1970. With Pan American airlines as one of its major investors they had the possibility to influence the design and development of the aircraft. It was deemed that the world needed a jet plane of massive size that could transport hundreds of passengers [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/travel/on-board-a-747-with-pan-american-airlines/feed/ 2 http://www.ultraswank.net/design/lg-retro-television/ http://www.ultraswank.net/design/lg-retro-television/#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 06:14:15 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1882 If you miss the old days when television was black and white and the television-sets were anything but dull looking, LG has a treat in store for you! They call it “The LG Serie 1 Retro Classic TV” and comes with a 4:3 ratio 14 inch display screen which can be tuned to either color [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/design/lg-retro-television/feed/ 6 http://www.ultraswank.net/design/retro-inspired-personal-computer/ http://www.ultraswank.net/design/retro-inspired-personal-computer/#comments Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:52:50 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1870 The ’50s are back and making its way into the design of everyday gadgetry. If you are a fan of Apple’s personal computers I bet you will dig this concept for a home computer. The “Philco PC” takes its inspiration from the 1954 design classic Philco Predicta, as well as an eclectic mixture of modern [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/design/retro-inspired-personal-computer/feed/ 7 http://www.ultraswank.net/stores/lets-go-shopping/ http://www.ultraswank.net/stores/lets-go-shopping/#comments Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:50:05 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1833 Retro futuristic concept drawings for branded stores in the 1950s. I really dig the look and the color schemes. (Via)]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/stores/lets-go-shopping/feed/ 6 http://www.ultraswank.net/inspiration/retro-offices/ http://www.ultraswank.net/inspiration/retro-offices/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 06:34:24 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=1803 Here is something for all you office / gadget geeks. Corporate environments used to be stylish, fun and zany a couple of decades ago, pre cubicle-land, Lumberghs and Hawaiian shirt day. Look at those big machines and the women who knows how to operate them, pretty sassy huh? There are a bunch of more retro [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/inspiration/retro-offices/feed/ 0