1950s-2010s
Aesthetics Study
50-10年代 懷舊美學研究
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Check out the Decade Exhibition HERE!
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Bigger than ever before, this is the age of nostalgia.
We are seeing the retro motif and aesthetics in movies, music, fashion... everywhere.
Even styles that used to be received as "bad" are now having a major comeback.
So, to further understand the trend of throwback,
and as the 2010s decade coming to an end,
I took a journey through the decades to study the aesthetics between different eras.
(Project from Aug 2018 - Jan 2020)
chapter 1 - 1950s
1950s was a simpler time. After the end of WWII, people were ready for a change, a brand new start.
It was a time which hopes for the future is so bright so optimistic.
FUN. SIMPLE. POSITIVE.
chapter 2 - 1960s
chapter 2 - 1960s
The 60s was a time for awakening and changes.
Multi-cultural and diversity started getting its spotlight in the public.
It was also an innovative era which brought advancement in technology and design.
BOLD. BRIGHT. MODERN.
chapter 3 - 1970s
chapter 3 - 1970s
T1970s was a very iconic period of time. It sets the general look and feel of today "retro" aesthetics.
The first half of the 70s carried the influences of the hippie movement from the last decade.
And yet by the late 70s, it evolved into a complete contrast where everything is vibrant and shiny.
NATURAL. ORGANIC. GROOVY.
chapter 4 - 1980s
chapter 4 - 1980s
The 1980s was one of the most iconic styles because of its fearlessly boldness, dynamic, and intensity.
If we can only define the 80’s with one style, undoubtedly it will be the Memphis design.
Created by the Memphis group in 1981, a group formed with Italian designers and architects,
the Memphis design was aimed to break away from the modernism.
The style is known for its wide use of flat geometric shapes and strokes, clashing of bright colors, and the lack of grid system.
Memphis design gained major popularity on the main stream media in the 80s, including MTV,
shows like Pee Wee Playhouse and Saved By The Bell. It had such a significant impact that made it became the decade defying style which we can still see it’s revival and influences today.
fierce. bold. drama.
It’s not easy to compile all the 80s colors onto a single palette. From neon to pastel, one thing the 1980s surely didn’t lack is blandness. However, there is one pairing that stand out and is able to adapt to a few different styles. Using varies saturation of the orchid vs turquoise duo can do the magic on most 1980s iconic styles such as neon noir, Memphis, and 80s deco. Interestingly, this combination of hues can also be seen as part of the 1950s influences on the eighties along side of the fashion and movies throwback to the same decade. The 1980s maybe the first decade of nostalgia.
Photography in the 80s is all about the drama. Usually set in an overly staged scene or, on the very other end, just a simple plain background; The iconic portraits and studio shots were so iconic as they became the face of the 80s. Illuminated with spotlights, neon colors lighting or even black light to achieve the intense contrast. Still too low-key for you? Edit in some random scenery like sunset or waterfalls, it will do the story telling. What story? Whichever ones you want it to be.
chapter 5 - 1990s
chapter 5 - 1990s
The 1990s was surely a diverse era in time. Styles were changing drastically throughout the decade.
The early 90’s was evolved based on the remaining glamorous from the 80’s and took a more goofy turn.
Then it continued to calm down proceeding to the mid 90’s with the earth tones and the grunge trend.
Nevertheless, things got spiced up one more time (see what I did here?) in the late 90s.
Readying for the Y2K, the world once again fell in love with the futurism. The motifs of new technology complimented with the “back-then-not-too-advance” 3D graphics; The Y2K aesthetics has become one of the most iconic styles in the recent time.
diverse.
innovative.
experimental.
Plaids undoubtedly dominated the pattern category in 90’s fashion world. But in design, the Memphis trend from the 1980s remain its relevance in the 90’s. Other goofy patterns including neon tribe, halftone, and brush stroke-y elements also made heavy appearances throughout the decade.
Early 90s portraits carried over the glowing effects from the 80s. With more extreme temperatures, either a tad too warm or cold, one portrait can portray different emotions in two ways.
Photography in the late 90’s took a drastic change in style. Ditching the polished glowing effect from the 80’s and the gritty muted filter which popular in the grunge trend; the late 90’s photography adapted a more strip down, fresh and bright tone. Subject are well lit and focused, everything looks clean and sharp. No over-retouch in terms of coloring and saturations. Composition-wise, photographers get creatives with their extreme angles and lens such as fish eye.
chapter 6 - 2000s
chapter 6 - 2000s
The 2000s was an era of mix & (mis)match. Design was adventurous and experimental pasting different styles together.
versatile. mix & match. more is moreFancy-causal? Splendid-street? Nothing is impossible - sky’s the limit..
versatile.
mix & match.
more is more.
In the very late 2000s, hair went from bangs to all back, clothes went from oversized to skinny cut, people fully migrated from MySpace to Facebook, and we were ready to step into another new decade of even more diversity and life changing innovations.
2000s had a broad palette of colors. People weren’t afraid to experiment with all the flashy colors.
The neons/fluorescents made a comeback in late 2000s in a bold accent accompanied by big bold types in clashing colors creating an intense impact.
chapter 7 - 2010s
chapter 7 - 2010s
2010s was the decade of minimalism.
Despite the constant evolving styles, from hipster artisanal to flat,
gradients to 3D memphis; minimal was still the main key of the 2010s.
In the early 2010s, we stepped into the rise of the hipster and “authentic” lifestyle.
Rustic and old style design coming back to the scene stronger than ever.
The couple different aesthetics which ruled the early 2010s, slowly crossing onto each other in the later part of the decade.
For many of us who made it through the Y2K aesthetics, and after experienced couple years of extreme minimalism,
we have developed a fear of gradients. So when the trend made a comeback in the second half of 2010s, we weren’t really sure about that 🙈. But who’d have known the gradients is here to stay even today. As extreme minimalism started to cool down, layers and patterns had returned to the game. Yet the main goal was still about keeping everything as minimal and clean.
adaptive.
minimal.
artisanal.
Thanks for watching!
