Memphis Design & Characteristics
Memphis Design is a prominent postmodern style that originated from the renowned Memphis Design collective in Milan during the early 1980s. Led by the iconic Italian designer Ettore Sottsass, it had a significant influence on 80s design.
Characterized by its bold colours, clashing patterns, and unconventional approach, Memphis Design was a polarizing style. Today, it is celebrated in museum retrospectives and continues to inspire contemporary designers.
Is It Coming Back?
As nostalgia for 80s style has resurged, Memphis Design has become a prominent feature in museum retrospectives and a rich source of inspiration for various designers. This includes fashion houses like Christian Dior and Missoni, as well as new generations of interior designers, type designers, costume designers.
The Characteristics of Memphis Design
Memphis Design challenged conventional notions of good taste and rejected the Bauhaus principle of "form follows function." It was created to provoke an emotional response with its loud, brash, and playful approach. Characterized by bright colors in unconventional combinations and bold, clashing patterns, it employed simple geometric shapes, black-and-white graphics, rounded edges, and curves. The style also embraced squiggles and used materials like terrazzo and plastic laminate in various finishes. Memphis Design defied expectations by incorporating unusual shapes, such as round legs on a table, instead of conventional forms.
Memphis Design embraced a radical blend of bold colours, clashing patterns, and an audacious mix of styles, creating a look that was entirely unique at the time and remains distinctive today.
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