My new brainstorming technique is unstoppable

A while back we invested in a few Dover Publications Clip-Art books in order to pep up the occasional presentation. Despite our preference for things non-Powerpoint, there are occasions when there's no avoiding it. But that's no reason not to make an effort, is it?

Our favourites are the more 80s feeling business titles, like this:

...and this:

...which includes this splendid pipe-smoking chap:

But we've a soft spot for these two, too:

Lot's of outdated home and office gadgets in the former, lots of ladies with big hair, hats and cats in the latter:

Plenty in there to bring a certain something to your next Powerpoint meisterwerk.

Of course, David Rees has used many of these to mirthful effect in his comic strips.

We've been trying to do a plannery equivalent for months, but couldn't think of anything nearly as amusing as Mr Rees' efforts. So this is as far as we've got. (Feel free to have a go yourselves. We might even find a prize for the best submission.)

Looking at it now, I think the blank bubbles do give it different kind of meaning.

From the days when cut and paste meant using something sharp and something sticky, all these images are printed one-sided so that nothing shows through from the reverse when you cut them out to construct your composition. And to help you do that, each book comes with handy instructions inside the back cover:

I think I want an X-Acto knife. It sounds like something from The Incredibles.

Comments

[Wal]

Aye, this stuff is golden! Wish it would be digital up in the world wide ether, but then, the fun part is probably the X-ACTO knife action.

And does that mean todays clip art is going to be cool again in 20 years?

[dan at innocent]

I love this stuff. We used a few in our first recipe book. They still make me laugh like an old witch (that's a good thing).

[Iain Tait]

I bought a double DVD set of clip art from eBay. The incredible power you get from knowing that you have 7,500,000 pieces of clip art is phenomenal.

I feel like the ruler of the universe with an infinite arsenal of infinitely destructive weapons.

[patrick syms]

Step away from the clip art, sir. I repeat, step away...

[Rob]

Pretty sure you guys were around when I posted this, but just in case:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eversion/sets/72157594398903442/

Point me to the links for those books, I can't find them amongst all their other stuff.

[patrick syms]

Here you go:

http://store.doverpublications.com/0486273512.html

http://store.doverpublications.com/0486257622.html

http://store.doverpublications.com/048628218x.html

http://store.doverpublications.com/0486243419.html