The Philosophy

Mast Brothers Chocolate | American Craft Chocolate
I've been effected by the vision and craft of the New York Artizan Chocolate makers, The Mast Brothers. They're small scale and expertly crafted chocolate business, part of a growing craft movement which values the hand-made and personal, has it's roots in an almost sub-conscious crafting history while still being very innovative and progressive in it's design process. They also instinctively know their niche audience's desires and values, placing beauty and integrity at the heart of their business and delivering what looks to be amazing chocolate in the deal.

If only more businesses stuck to ideals like this...
Small-scale, Artizan, Personal, Craft = Desirable, Beautiful, Valuable, Loved Products

Sailing the beans

"...the sailboat carries the whole story of what we're looking to do...it's about  the adventure and curiosity of how chocolate is made and how we're showing everybody this, that when they taste our chocolate it is like old Mark Twain stories - adventure & childlike curiosity and a sort of independance and freedom - a fiercely independant almost Emmersionian spirit is something that we love and we hope relates and shows in our chocolate and process." Rick Mast

The Packaging

"...the paper itself is the thickness of an old butchers paper simply, carefully and originally hand-wrapped with just a sticker on it - restoring an old printing press and doing all in-house printing so that our community can craft new designs. As oppose to the goal being consistency and mass distribution, we're looking for in a way for an inconsistent product so your tastebuds are not only enjoying the sensuality of it but they're also learning. The brain is learning something while you eat it." Rick Mast

The Videos

Cool Hunting Video (the shorter one)

"...we visit Brooklyn to tour the Mast Brothers' bean-to-bar chocolate factory—one of just a handful in the U.S. The chocolatiers, Rick and Michael Mast, walk us through their uniquely intensive process, DIY machines, and a little of their food philosophy."

The Scout Magazine Video (the longer one)
 
"The life of a mariner is one given over to wanderlust—the quest for adventure, crossing unseen horizons to secure precious goods—only to bring them back to their home port. This same love of adventure and curiosity defines the brotherhood of Rick and Michael Mast. They share a fiercely independent spirit, leaping into the unknown and trusting that they’ll find the answer through endurance and dedication to their craft.  They began their voyage in their apartment, using a homemade machine to process cacao beans. Over time they cultivated their creation, sourcing beans from family farms in Madagascar, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Ecuador. Each bar is handmade with incredible reverence for the process and history of chocolate. They are bound in ornamental papers and golden foil like a collection of rare books. Each bar offers its own story of flavors, and no two are exactly alike.  The Mast Brothers are now planning to navigate the mighty Atlantic, sailing to the Dominican Republic in search of beans and a deeper connection with the folks who grow them. Before they begin the next chapter, The Scout spent time with Rick and Michael documenting their story." http://thescoutmag.com/videos/food/857/the_mast_brothers

The Links

http://www.mastbrotherschocolate.com/
http://www.mastbrothers.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mast-Brothers-Chocolate/18960496604

Paul Giambarba, the designer who worked on Polaroid's Identity between 1958-1977 http://giam.typepad.com/the_branding_of_polaroid_/ "Paul Giambarba initiated Polaroid's corporate image development and product identity in 1958. His innovative black packaging successfully subdued the dominance of Kodak yellow at point-of-purchase and spawned a vogue of black packaging within the industry. Creator of the ubiquitous Polaroid color stripes, one of the most widely imitated design devices of the last several decades, he designed and produced hundreds of Polaroid packages and collateral material including consumer literature and "How to Make Better Polaroid Instant Pictures," a trade book for Doubleday & Co." Also, see his latest work for Polaroid here http://giambarba.com/

Don't forget to look at my other Polaroid post 'Viva La Polaroid' which focuses on some great Polaroid photo collections http://kathykavan.posterous.com/viva-la-polaroid-abstract-flickr

Polaroid pic archives in these big Flickr Groups: http://www.flickr.com/groups/polaroid_/ and http://www.flickr.com/groups/14462747@N00/

Want more, buy the book 'Polaroid Book' by Barbara Hitchcock/Taschen - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Polaroid-Book-Barbara-Hitchcock/dp/3822830720/ref=sr_...

(Thanks to http://www.thelovelyroom.com, http://jameshambly.com/, http://www.thedieline.com for some of the ref images)

I wonder if a big brand name chocolate company could keep it this simple? 

This is a really great and simple identity designed by http://www.ruizcompany.com/index.php?/work/chocolat-factory/ for Spanish chocolate company http://www.chocolatfactory.com/eng/ - more details featured here: http://lovelypackage.com/chocolat-factory/

Nice carton concepts by illustrator Sanna Annukka http://www.sanna-annukka.com/