08.21.05

The Misogyny of Old Smoke

Graphic Design Book2024
A brief analysis of the underlying sexism and misogyny of vintage cigar box design.


The analysis of the designs of the cigar boxes focuses mainly on the typographic styles and choices that were made. The decorative, elegant, Victorian-style font was used to create a fantasy-like feel for the men it was marketed toward. The bold sans-serif fonts were used for the text speaking directly to the consumers, like the text for the descriptions of the cigars. In each spread the color palette, motifs, and fonts were directly inspired by the cigar boxes that were analyzed. This project was created to educate viewers on the lesser-known negative aspects of design history. 




“Every day I discover more and more beautiful things.
It’s enough to drive one mad.
I have such a desire to do everything, my head is bursting with it.”      

― Claude Monet
kelly regino