Why Everything from 1983 Looks Awful
Stewart Hicks・2 minutes read
The Memphis group in 1983 introduced a rebellious aesthetic that defied traditional design norms, influencing post-modernist design in the 80s with unconventional compositions and color combinations using cheap materials like formica. Their legacy challenges conventional design norms, emphasizing the importance of appreciating past movements like the Memphis group for their innovative spirit and questioning attitude towards design history.
Insights
- The Memphis group, emerging in 1983, revolutionized design with unconventional aesthetics, discordant colors, and cheap materials, shaping 80s culture and post-modernist design.
- Preservation efforts for postmodern buildings, exemplified by the Thompson Center, face societal challenges in recognizing their value, emphasizing the need to reevaluate preservation practices and appreciate innovative design movements like the Memphis group.
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Recent questions
What design movement emerged in 1983?
Memphis group
What architectural style did the Thompson Center exemplify?
Bold, colorful, unconventional
What challenges do preservation efforts for postmodern buildings face?
Convincing society of value and significance
How did the Memphis group influence design history?
Challenging conventional norms, celebrating overlooked aspects
Why is it important to preserve past design movements like the Memphis group?
Innovative and questioning spirit
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Summary
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"1983: Memphis Group's Impact on Design"
- 1983 marked a significant period in design and culture, with MTV's influence and synth pop music dominating the scene.
- Architectural structures from around 40 years ago often reach a point where they appear outdated and challenging to appreciate due to design trends and material lifespan.
- The Memphis group, a cadre of designers, emerged in 1983, introducing a rebellious and unconventional aesthetic that defied traditional design norms.
- The Memphis group's designs embraced discordant color combinations, simplistic patterns, and unconventional compositions, utilizing cheap and ubiquitous materials like formica.
- The group's influence extended beyond galleries, permeating various aspects of 80s culture, shaping the post-modernist design ethos of the decade.
- The Thompson Center, originally the State of Illinois building, exemplifies the Memphis group's influence with its bold, colorful, and unconventional design elements.
- The building's intentional use of mundane materials like glass, mullion extrusions, and colored panels reflects a similar approach to the Memphis group's design philosophy.
- Preservation efforts for postmodern buildings, like the Thompson Center, face challenges in convincing society of their value and significance, requiring a reevaluation of preservation practices.
- The Memphis group's legacy extends to contemporary design appreciation, challenging conventional norms and celebrating the overlooked aspects of design history.
- The cyclical nature of design history emphasizes the importance of preserving and appreciating past design movements, like the Memphis group, for their innovative and questioning spirit.
