What? Has the original MYNTZ! Tin gone vintage?
Oh! How quickly does time fly! Yesterday, I was digging through a box of my portfolio trophies. I found an empty MYNTZ! Tin and a couple of packages of Mint Instastripz. They have brought me back so many great memories. 🙂.
Yes! I was the designer who created the original MYNTZ! 3D logo back in 2002.
Besides my family, I have never shared the behind the scene story with anyone before. So read on…
Here is a short version of the process of how I brought the logo to life..
MYNTZ! was one of the very early graphic design projects that I did for Vitech America. Right after I graduated from the Art Institute of Seattle, I was offered a Graphic Design/3D Specialist position at a small startup online publishing company, Premium Services, based in Federal Way, WA. They designed and built real estate websites.
Back then, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and 3D Studio Max were my go-to tools. I created countless 3D animations that were optimized specifically for Websites. I absolutely loved it!
One day, my Art Director (Mark Klinkhammer) had a meeting with Vitech America’s owner (David Parker.) Mark walked into my shared office and said “We are going to design a 3D Logo for a new breath mint called “MYNTZ!”… and you, Ton!, are the only person here who knows this 3D stuff.” I said in my head “Cool! Lucky me!”
Little that I know (and a few months later), MYNTZ! was sold at Trader Joe’s, and it was a sensational product overnight. Read the MYNTZ! success story, Pugetsound Business Journals, and Seattle PI Daily News Gallery.
"When Vitech had perfected its formula for its Myntz! brand, it ceased candy-contract manufacturing and launched its own line. “Right off the bat we started getting customers like Trader Joe’s, Safeway, 7-Eleven,” Parker said. “Then we went back to Minneapolis and pitched Target. They loved us."
- David Parker, Founder, Vitech America
In 2009, MYNTZ! the logo was redesigned. I love the new design. They have done a great job! My hat’s off to the designer. Well done!
Since we are talking about Tins, I proudly admitted that I have an obsession with tin design. I like all retro designs, such as an old lunchbox, old coffee can, old sardine can, etc. Curiosity, I Googled the words “Vintage MYNTZ! tin” and I could not believe that my original logo showed up as vintage! An empty MYNTZ! tin is now worth up to $24. I’m so excited!!!
On top of this, someone has gone above and beyond and converted the MYNTZ! Tin into a headphone amplifier. I found it on westpoint.com and I was blown away! It’s Unbelievable!
Anyway, what I discovered accidentally yesterday had made my whole day. As a designer, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing your works have impacted someone’s life in some way. I really can’t explain it. It’s worth so much more than money, and I can’t really put a price tag on it. All I know is… Man! I love what I do, and the rest is just a bonus.