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The grid is a powerful element of retro futuristic design, and it was found everywhere in 80s visual culture – advertising, packaging, print, television, cinema. And we have seen how this pervasive element is popular again in contemporary graphic design, used especially for retro wave, vapor and aesthetic artworks. This is because an overarching theme for all trends during the decade was a desire to be extremely eye-catching in a world full of loud, eye-catching things.
Cyberpunk Style
But unlike most flash-in-the-pan fads, the underlying appeal of Memphis Design was just too strong to vanish completely. That’s why you can see iterations of the style persisting on into the 90s in the fashion and set design of Saved by the Bell or the widely distributed Jazz Design on disposable cups. And in the next section, we’ll talk about how the Memphis Movement is still with us today. The response of the Milan party, later dubbed the Memphis Group, was a bold style that would disrupt the status quo. An exposition followed thereafter in which they showcased outlandishly gaudy pieces.
Fashion Patterns Vol. 1
People used different geometric patterns, complementary color schemes, and new technologies to give the design a "futuristic" expression. In the 1980s, people were forward-thinking and wanted to visualize the future. With the introduction of new computers and software, monospaced font designs made a big appearance. This sans serif font is a contemporary take on the 80s tech-inspired font.
Pink and Purple 1980s Digital Papers
80s video game graphic design was completely different by today’s standards, but back in the day, it was a revolution. As with anything else, the 80s were game-changers for movie poster graphic design. In the early 80s, the posters were made by illustrations in most cases, and by the end of the decade, they were designed all digitally.
Whether it was a checkerboard pattern, a vibrant tropical print, or a grungy texture, these design elements added visual intrigue and captured the spirit of the era. This style is a vivid juxtaposition of future technology and cyberspace with the lower level of life in reality. Cyberpunk was seen often in films, novels, and designs like ‘Blade Runner’ or a William Gibson’s novel ‘Neuromancer’. In the world of design, borrowing visual concepts from 80s cyberpunk has actually never found its end. Check out the ‘Matrix’ and you will understand why this retro style is not going anywhere anytime soon.
The history of rock band logos, from the 1960s to the present day - Creative Bloq
The history of rock band logos, from the 1960s to the present day.
Posted: Thu, 16 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
A special thank-you to eBay store Posters Please, which provided the image of the Razzia Bugatti poster above (a hand-signed original). We’ve previously spotlighted this store, with its extensive array of vintage posters, as a 1980s interior design resource. It was one of many Internet microgenres that emerged in this era, alongside Witch House, Seapunk, Shitgaze, Cloud Rap, and others. Coinciding with vaporwave was a broader trend of young artists harkening back to their 1980s childhoods in their work.
graffiti and street art
Use them for creating textiles, packaging, branding, web design, and more. This is why many designers these days have opted to use miniature, scattered shapes and lines in order to hint at Memphis Design rather than give their project over completely to flashy graphics. Doing so allows them to capture some of the jubilant energy that Memphis evokes without all the provocative spectacle.
The art deco typefaces
A modern graphic design style flourished in the ’80s, complete with clean, sans-serif fonts and pronounced angles and curves. We call this style ’80s Deco, and just as it crept into homes with its black lacquer furniture and arched ceramic vases, it put its Art Deco-reminiscent stamp on the world of graphic design. Take renowned poster artist Razzia, who created the image above (top), which referenced the revered 1936 Bugatti Atlantic automobile. Add a still from the opening credits of Miami Vice (bottom), a show that reveled in the pastels and Deco details that are now the heart of Miami Beach. Considering the distinctive look and feel, neon design is still considered to be one of the favorite choices of designers. It is used in various types of designs to bring a unique contrast in the illustrations.

This was twenty years before Steve Jobs announced the first iPhone in 2007. He later designed the first cell phone for mass publication for the brand Motorola, the Motorola DynaTac 8000X, lovingly called "the brick" in 1983. Back in the 80s, newspapers and magazines dictated the flow of information – combined with TV, they were the main source of news, information, and trends. Below you can find what some of those magazines, and comic book covers looked like back in the 1980s.
Alessandro Mendini introduced a splash of cyan to the traditional Memphis palette for his Supreme skateboard designs. Neon triangles on a digital grid form a tunnel that takes you straight to the ’80s in this looped stock video clip. Use it for the background anywhere you need to add a blast from the past. Pink and purple were a hot color combo back in the days when we listened to mix tapes on our Sony Walkmans. When you want to invoke that nostalgic feeling, try using one of these backgrounds in your design.
A thank-you to BriansCherryPicks, an eBay store with a wonderful assortment of highly unique vintage items, including Trapper Keepers, mini brass diving helmets and taxidermy items. In 1981, a crew of Milan-based of designers formed The Memphis Group and set out to shake up the worlds of interior and fashion design with striking color combinations and geometric motifs. Known as Memphis-Milano style, this design trend is now revered as high art and prized by collectors.
Eye in the 80s – PRINT Magazine - PRINT Magazine
Eye in the 80s – PRINT Magazine.
Posted: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 07:00:00 GMT [source]
With their bold layouts, vibrant colors, and symbolic imagery, 80s posters continue to captivate audiences and serve as a visual testament to the creativity and cultural vibrancy of the time. As we look back on this iconic era of graphic design, we are reminded of the power of visuals in shaping our collective memories and evoking a sense of nostalgia. The 1980s was a vibrant and dynamic era for graphic design, and posters played a significant role in shaping the visual landscape. From promoting concerts to advertising movies, 80s posters captured attention with their bold and eye-catching visuals. Logo design in the 80s was marked by its unique and eye-catching characteristics.
It was very unusual at that time to offer two different graphics options. Graphic design for website content during the 80s was nonexistent, as no websites were online. The only aspect of the internet influenced by graphic design was the font types and graphical user interface. Graphic design for the internet was mainly used in print ads to advertise the advancements of the internet.
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