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2000′s

An example of graphic design from 2015. This magazine was inspired by Matisse as you can see, but it has a fresh appeal with the simple approach, block colours and fun twisted typography. Although Graphic Design is a wide spectrum of styles, this simple approach has definitely made a comeback more recently. This has been around for a while, since the bauhaus era even, but bright colours and flat graphics ( a combination of past timelines ) is seen more and more often in Graphic Design today. This is what I like about Graphic Design, there are trends that have inspired my own work and helped me to develop my skills and understanding of the audience.

2000s

This is an example of illustration from 2016. There is definitely a textured feel that comes from other eras and has developed into a trend in the 2000′s. This is a piece of work by Mariana Salimena from Brazil. I found her on Bechance which is an online portfolio website powered by Adobe. It’s the perfect place to find contemporary illustrators and designers. There is definitely a wider range of styles now, because of the wider range of techniques (especially since the computer was invented) and because people are less likely to follow trends, they like to develop their own style. This is particularly true for illustrators.

This is a Japanese ‘Life Poster’ that I found while researching design from the 1990′s. It immediately caught my eye because my current Graphics project is based on ‘The Seven Sins we commit to the Earth’ and one of the issues I’ve looked at for Gluttony is Whaling. I did a similar illustration to this where the whale was cut in half and it was turned into a little sushi. This is actually a topic I feel quite strongly about and this poster really stood out and affected me. I think this proves even a simple design can be strong and communicate the most serious of messages.

Yoshitomo Nara (1990)

These are paintings by the Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara - more common known as ‘Nara’. He lives in Tokyo but has had 80 worldwide solo exhibitions of his work since 1984. I love his work because it has a ‘grunge’ look to it as well as depth because a lot of his work has a hidden meaning that you would most likely miss if you use looked at the childlike surface illustration. This is what inspires me most about his work. His work stands out from the general style of design in the 1990′s and although his style has a definite Japanese feel to it, there is something unique about him that is why he has because so popular.

80′s STYLE

The bright colours and patterns that first appeared during the Memphis movement have actually become something of a trend in the current design world. The first two pictures are from a building in Japan and the other two are from a hairdressing studio. You can see how the 80′s Memphis Movement has influenced them and the modern spin that we have put on an old style. This style really appeals to me because there is something really fresh and cool that I think would appeal to a younger audience in particular.

Magazine cover designs from the Memphis Movement (1970s)

I love the bright colours, various shapes and patterns - this style of design is something I still see around today. It’s timeless.

YBA (Young British Artists)

The Young British Artists, or YBAs—also referred to as Brit artists and Britart—is the name given to a loose group of visual artists who first began to exhibit together in London, in 1988. Many of the artists graduated from the BA Fine Art course at Goldsmiths, in the late 1980s.

A product of working-class Leeds, Hirst made his name when he was still a student, as curator of a landmark show of work by a group known as the “Young British Artists.” He went on to create some of the most identifiable images of the last two decades, building a tabloid reputation for boozy antics.

Matchbox label from 1970

1970

Milton Glaser’s iconic tourism-campaign symbol debuted in 1973.

Paul Klee (1879-1940)

The first image shows on of Paul Klee’s more early works created in 1970 and the others are more recent and show his use of drawing and other media.

MEMPHIS

The Memphis Group was an Italian design and architecture group founded by Ettore Sottsass in 1981 that designed Postmodern furniture, fabrics, ceramics, glass and metal objects from 1981 to 1987. Their work was typically bright coloured, with mad patterns and geometric shapes which made it stand out from the crowd.

JERZY FLISAK - Polish Poster Designs

1970 – “Az Ido Ablakai”, Hungary 1969. Directed by Tamas Fejer.

1958 – “Three Men in the Snow”, Austria 1955. Directed by Kurt Hoffmann.

Vintage modern stamps from Israel – 1975 Arbor day collection

Paul Rand (1914-1996) is a very well known Graphic Designer and Art Director who created many logos that have become famous over the years. His style was very bright, graphic and simple which revolutionised Poster and Logo design at the time. He was one of the first American commercial artists to embrace and practice the Swiss Style of graphic design. These are a collection of some of his logo designs - He is most known for his corporate identity work for IBM.

1920-1980

Vintage Matchbox Designs collected by Jane Mcdevitt. These designs have been collected from Russia, Poland and Japan over a period of about 60 years. Although they look like illustrations from a children's story - They are actually mini advertisements some are heath and safety PSAs from the Soviet Government while others promoted Japanese Tea Houses, bakeries and jazz clubs.

Phillumeny is the term for someone who collects matchboxes, it roughly translates form Greek and Latin to ‘lover of light’ which I found really fascinating.

Whimsical logos for Little Majesty, infant clothes designed by Morton Goldsholl and John Webber of Goldsholl Associates 1960

1969 Poster

This is a 1969 poster, created in favour of the uprisings that occurred in France (May 1968). Translated this poster means ‘The Beauty in the street’ which refers to the street protestors that gathered on strikes. These people were protesting against capitalism, consumerism and traditional institutions, values and order. Although this was a period of civil unrest, and these protests occasionally turned violent - it was agreed that there was a beauty and artistic aspect to the debates, including songs, imaginative graffiti, posters and slogans.

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