This archival book celebrates the bygone eras of the humble crisp packet

In the US, they’re chips. In the UK, they’re crisps. But no matter where you live, beloved potato snacks have a history of glorious graphic design that graced the packets we all know and love. In a new book published by Sports Banger’s Banger Books, called U.K. Crisp Packets 1970 - 2000, that history is put on full display, charting the evolution of the nation’s aesthetic choices, from the humble Discos to the bygone Smuggler’s Bites and Krunchie Sticks. The book was pushed into existence by Jonny Banger along with Professor Annabella Pollen, who came on board to write an amazing opening essay. It’s Nice That talked to the Athens-based artist, photographer and curator of the book, aptly named Chris Packet, about what went into this loving archive of ground-level visual identities.

“I’ve always had an interest in design, art, graphics, branding and lettering. I’ve done graffiti since I was a kid and also growing up in the late 80s early 90s, was surrounded by amazing cartoons and artwork on everything from TV, magazines, cereal boxes and crisp packets,” says Chris. “All of this influenced me to appreciate this kind of aesthetic and after finding my first four packets in 2018 inside a disused train tunnel in south London, I was reminded how unique the artwork was.” From that point onward Chris began to collect packets, and extensively researching their past design eras and trends.

The primary challenge for Chris was preserving the packets for a long time (they’re very fragile), but the book displays how good they look when scanned, and gives them a new lease of life. Helping people to reconnect with old memories, viewers are transported to their local corner shop, school playgrounds and childhood cupboards. “I think this project has struck a chord because there’s a particular interest in hand drawn designs of the past in the current age of AI where human effort is at an all-time low. Now the first thought is ‘I’ll get AI to do that’, rather than commissioning an illustrator,” says Chris.

These crisp packets are informed by the culture at the time, marketing to children via television classics such as Thunderbirds and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, gloriously hand-drawn and popping with colour. The book is a kind of memoriam not only to previous decades worth of visual identities, but the UK itself, as Chris scoured “thousands of empty buildings and abandoned factories” to find these empty packets, amongst other things in his collection, such as 35mm photos, hand-painted signs, artwork, vinyl, comics and books.

Of course, we need to know what are some of Chris’ favourites – and it’s mainly those that are cartoon-focused: Walkers crisps featuring a wizard dragon mascot, Smith’s Zodiacs for the lettering design and pop culture references to The Mask, Wallace & Gromit and Dennis the Menace. Taste-wise, Chris goes for Nice ‘N’ Spicy Nik Naks. Good choice!