The compact disc is a sign of the times. From writing with sticks and stones, to storing data on flat circular sheets. The first iteration of optical discs appeared in 1884, although more advanced today, the idea of recording and playing stays the same.
The ionic DVD logo, bouncing from edge to edge, corner to corner, made its debut in 1996, with it the first DVD player released in japan. Its unique design made it possible to differentiate itself from its, at that time, competitors such as CD and VHS. The use of the bouncing logo was to prevent burn-ins on TVs and displays.
The DVD logo was also used as a standard. The logo meant that the product held up to certain specifications such as size, capacity, and construction. It meant quality… meant. With advancements in technology, the meaning of the logo is losing its meaning as DVDs are starting to become phased out.
This Maxwell DVD-R, in specific, is a recordable, write-once disc, meaning that it is not rewritable. From MP3s to movies to video games… The physical disc, created by humans could contain it all. Worlds inside it. Stories to be told. – It resembles a book in a way, with space for the user to write its title on the front.
The Maxwell’s Blown Away logo could be seen on the far right of the front of the disc. It is the logo of the man on a couch with hair blowing. This was a direct homage from Maxwell’s 80’s commercial, where a man was being blown away from the sounds of Maxwell’s sound systems. This logo was also used as a symbol of quality for Maxwell, giving the viewer a perception of what they should expect.
References
Bauer, Chris. “All about the DVD Logo - What Is It? Do We Really Need It?” UnifiedManufacturing, July 11, 2024. https://www.unifiedmanufacturing.com/blog/dvd-logo/?srsltid=AfmBOooJDx3OegNjfMw2pacxMLY09Z_7NUOh-4fZMe0bCnOYwf1fyo6i.
Weitzman, Cliff. “The DVD Screensaver: A Cultural Icon and Its Impact.” Speechify, August 23, 2023. https://speechify.com/blog/dvd-screensaver/?srsltid=AfmBOoovrINV3vjQDZDT9HpQhhdLD4j374NyNwTFjYFaGeBYTzExaKw3.
Adam, Stewart. “Blown Away Guy, Maxell Cassette Commercial.” Creative Audio Works, December 16, 2023. https://creativeaudioworks.com/audio-restoration/blown-away-guy-maxell-cassette-commercial/.
“The Famous Maxell ‘Blown-Away’ TV Commercial.” YouTube, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf1dzpU2Oao.
