1981-1987 — Era

Memphis Design

Rebelión posmoderna contra el minimalismo.

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. The Memphis style is characterized by ephemeral design featuring colorful and abstract decoration as well as asymmetrical shapes, often arbitrarily alluding to exotic or earlier styles. It was a direct rebellion against the “Good Design” principles of the Bauhaus and Modernism, which they found cold and soulless.

The 80s Aesthetic

Memphis is the visual definition of the 1980s. Think “Saved by the Bell” intros or MTV bumpers. It uses squiggly lines (the “Bacterio” pattern), geometric shapes (triangles, circles, zig-zags), and a fearless color palette of pastels mixed with black and white.

In web design, Memphis is used to convey fun, nostalgia, and energy. It is anti-minimalist. It fills the screen with pattern and movement.

Breaking the Grid

While Modernism loves the grid, Memphis loves to break it. Elements are often tilted, rotated, or scattered across the page. This creates a dynamic, kinetic energy. It feels spontaneous and improvised, like jazz (which is fitting, as the movement was named after a Bob Dylan song).

Designers use this style for brands that want to appear youthful, quirky, and unconventional. It is popular in fashion, music, and creative agency portfolios.

New Century of Soul Illustration
Fuente: https://dribbble.com/shots/8875480-New-Century-of-Soul-Illustration
Colorful brochures in Memphis style
Fuente: https://dribbble.com/shots/10747018-Colorful-brochures-in-Memphis-style
Instax 9 Landing Page Concept
Fuente: https://dribbble.com/shots/6391772-Instax-9-Landing-Page-Concept

Digital Memphis

On the web, Memphis design is often “cleaned up” slightly to ensure usability. The patterns are used as backgrounds or section dividers, while the text remains legible on solid containers. It provides a way to have a strong visual personality without sacrificing the user experience.

It is a reminder that design doesn’t always have to be serious. It can be loud, silly, and joyful.

Key Characteristics

  1. Squiggles and Zig-Zags: The iconic “Bacterio” pattern.
  2. Pastel + Black: Soft pinks and teals contrasted with sharp black lines.
  3. Geometry: Triangles, circles, and arcs used decoratively.
  4. Asymmetry: Deliberately unbalanced compositions.
  5. Kitsch: Embracing “bad taste” as an aesthetic choice.