“Out With the Old, in With the New.” We all know and have probably used this popular mantra, but do we really follow it? Maybe you’ve used it when referring to a wardrobe update or a new habit that you’re trying to adopt. I think it might be safe to assume that everyone loves a good refresh; ridding of old habits and looking towards a bright, innovative future. But, I think us humans might be a little bit too nostalgic to completely get rid of the old… right? Maybe the mantra should say; “Out With the Old, in With a Fresh Version of the Old.” As we dive deeper into this blog post, I’d like to expand on this concept in the context of graphic design. Although designers are indeed constantly producing new ideas, many recent trends do feel like a blast from the past, because truth be told, everyone loves a good walk down memory lane.
Art Deco; More Than Just the Great Gatsby
When you think of the term “Art Deco,” you might envision heavy geometric patterns, vintage jazz posters, or the iconic Great Gatsby movie poster, and honestly all of these aren’t far off from the truth. The Art Deco movement originated in the 1920s and celebrated the many advancements that the world was achieving post World War 1. Society felt sleeker and more streamlined, which was highlighted by the bold geometry and lavish ornamentation of it’s art at the time. Although this particular art style is incredibly easy to recognize due to it’s unique nature, today designers are stripping it back and introducing a more subtle take on the aesthetic that ruled during the Roaring Twenties.
Bold Minimalism; Where Less is More
If there was a competition for being the most sleek and mysterious, bold minimalism would win by a landslide. Popular brands that you know and love such as Apple, Uber, and Nike all find themselves gravitating towards this particular aesthetic. Originally, the minimal art movement emerged in the 1950s, when artists wanted to challenge the perception of art. This movement emphasized only essential elements such as form, line, shape, and color. Today, minimalism reigns as a popular style because people love it’s refined and simple nature, especially within interior design. Within the digital design realm, this classic aesthetic has naturally evolved over time into what we often see today; clean design paired with dramatic and confident elements to create a powerful visual effect.
Retro Design; Let’s Keep Those Good Vibes Rolling
You might think that graphic design is as simple as matching colors and shapes, but you’d actually be far from the truth. Psychology plays a huge role for graphic designers, making sure that the consumer feels something. Particularly in this instance, designers are giving the consumer a big helping of sweet sweet nostalgia. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably noticed retro aesthetics dominating the design space recently. With its bright colors, fluid patterns, psychedelic typefaces, and pop art elements, designs from the 60s and 70s are sure to be loved by many. Today, designers love taking these groovy art styles and adding their own contemporary twist to them — creating something that’ll no doubt make the consumer feel all those good nostalgic feelings.
Y2K; The Angst is Back
The late 90s and 2000s is an era that we all can probably recall, so naturally it’s popularity within today’s design hits close to home. Looking back you might remember all the low rise jeans, metallic fabrics, and crop tops that had everyone in a trance. In graphic design during the Y2K period colors were used in very bright ways, chrome was all over the place, technological devices were used as illustrative icons, and abstracted shapes represented pop cultures influence at the time. Today, as designers channel their inner teenage angst, we see many contemporary takes on the iconic personality that the year 2000 had; using gradient hues, 3D shapes, and tech-inspired typography styles.
Conclusion
New design trends are always emerging, or should I say re-emerging in fresh ways. The past undeniably has a huge influence on design today. I’m sure you can conclude that graphic designers love to make the consumer feel sentimental in pretty clever ways by livening up traditional art styles. So, next time you encounter graphic design (which is quite literally, everywhere), I challenge you to ask yourself; “Does this design feel like a blast from the past” and the answer to that question would probably be yes, yes indeed.
