Signs And Consumption

The History Behind The Signs

Beth Mathews | 10th June 2026

Exploring the "folk art glory" of vacuum-form signage. Seen "on every Main Street in America", these three-dimensional plastic thermo-formed signs first began appearing in the 1950s, replacing neon, which had in turn superseded wood and paint. Advances in plastics had companies competing to offer affordable options to "mom and pop" stores. The designs are now pure Americana nostalgia (1,400 words)

Puzzle: Play Nomido, the Browser’s daily word game.

How Much Stuff Do You Own?

Paul Lukas | Inconspicuous Consumption | 6th May 2026

People are combating overconsumption by documenting everything single thing that they own. "Your personal inventory is constantly in flux. Every time you go to the supermarket, pick up a new ChapStick at the corner store, or get your daily mail delivery, you suddenly have more objects; every time you take out the trash, sell something on eBay, or eat an apple out of the fridge, you have fewer" (1,400 words)