WHY DO YOU LIKE AND COLLECT MATCHES?
As a trained type designer I have always had a deep fascination for printed ephemera of all kinds. When I was a child my parents took us to antique auctions frequently, they loved interesting objects too. Matchbooks are perfect: so much variation, so much color, so many details. Of course, they're usually connected to places too, which adds a lot of depth and potential for emotional connection. It's a reminder of what we miss out on in a world of blanding (which is the antithesis of branding), mass production and design universalization.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE ONES AND WHY?
The best matchbox I have ever seen is from the @thestandard Cafe in NYC. It's got big letters, it's pink and red, and it's so tiny it could belong in a dollhouse: how do you beat that? I saw it during a studio visit by the designers who made them (@triborodesign in NYC) and it truly left a big mark on me. It made me think of how whimsy and a sense of wonder in product design is something most people like to make fun of. I think we could use a lot more of it.
WHEN AND HOW DO YOU LIKE TO ENJOY YOUR MATCHES?
This is going to sound so weird but sometimes I get out my huge stash, lay them all out and just.. look at them. I have a few of them on permanent display in my flat, but just Iooking at pretty things is an acceptable hobby for me. I want to make my collection more targeted, based on places I've been to, so I'm planning to go down a few eBay and Etsy rabbit holes soon.
