Although the Memphis style has enjoyed popularity and authority over the years, it has not always had a good reputation. It is a bright, colourful style that cannot be separated from the era. Used hastily, your design projects can seem old-fashioned. On the contrary, an experienced designer can turn the style’s flaws into advantages: annoying retro gives way to life-filled nostalgia.

We will give you a hint on how to apply this classic style effectively by reviewing the history of Memphis design and contemporary examples of its use.

What is Memphis style design?

Memphis style is an 80s aesthetic characterised by a scattering of brightly coloured shapes and lines. It is typically a combination of circles and triangles with black and white graphic patterns such as dots and wavy lines.

Memphis style is now seen by many as an integral feature of the 1980s look, so it’s important to learn about this era to fully understand it. Let’s turn to the history of Memphis design and talk about the people who created the movement and the events that influenced it.

The history of the Memphis movement

Imagine you’re at a party and you’re bored. You’ve been bored for a long time – it feels like years have passed. You wonder how it is that a party that was supposed to be fun has completely drained you of vitality. As you glance at the yawning faces around you, you realise that drastic measures will have to be taken to save the long night and revive it at least a little. So you hopelessly take a sip of your drink, slide your sunglasses over your eyes and hop onto the sofa. You decide to sacrifice yourself and sing karaoke.

The birth of Memphis style was very similar to this story. It started with a meeting of architects and industrial designers in Milan in 1981. In reality, however, it was not the event that bored the guests, but the general state of design – the creative field had stagnated, become corporate and monotonous.

De Stijl – the art movement that was probably the inspiration for the Memphis movement. Photo Wikimedia commons.

Long before the events described above, there were already movements in design and the visual arts that laid the foundations for the Memphis style, and it was these that visitors were most often reminded of when trying to figure out where things went wrong.

Kandinsky’s work is also believed to have inspired the Memphis movement. Wikimedia commons image.

This includes the abstract forms and colours of Cubism, De Stijl and the Harlem Renaissance, as well as Pop Art, a 1960s movement that challenged refined tastes by incorporating elements of popular and mass ‘low’ culture into art.

However, the greatest influence on Memphis style was modern minimalism. The classic Bauhaus principle of ‘form follows function’ was interpreted as necessitating the elimination of all purely decorative elements. The Second World War further reinforced this belief: the scarcity of materials led to the creation of a handful of utilitarian styles that persisted for many decades to come.

Designers who were part of the Memphis group founded by Ettore Sottsass. Memphis Milano image.

The result of the Milanese party, which later became known as the Memphis group, was a bold style that shook up the existing order. An exhibition was soon held where members of the group showed unexpectedly colourful objects. The furniture was colourful, asymmetrical, often uncomfortable, made of cheap materials and – in what was a bold parody of upper-class culture – named after luxury hotels.

The furniture exhibition that launched the Memphis movement, Photo by Wikimedia commons.

As expected, the exhibition caused a furore in the design community, and soon even its haters found it hard to resist the new trend. The Memphis Movement, named after Bob Dylan’s song from the album Blonde on Blonde, was everywhere.

Memphis style became a well-known phenomenon in 1980s fashion Pinterest image.

Although it started with furniture, the style proved to be quite popular and spread to art, graphics and fashion. This sophisticated ‘blandness’ was perfectly suited to a decade where glam metal, strappy pillows and parachute trousers, mohair and perms reigned supreme. In short, the 1980s were stunning and not afraid to expose it.

The MTV logo from the 1980s features many Memphis-inspired designs. MTV image

The ‘Memphis’ style became particularly popular with American youth as it provided a stark contrast to the harsh measures of the Reagan administration. The pinnacle of its success was the creation of the new MTV channel, which used the aesthetics of the Memphis movement for its logo.

Although it was an act of rebellion, there was no malice behind the actions of those involved in the movement. The nature of the Memphis style was one of challenge and joy, and the many colours and varied geometries attest to this. However, like a bright star, it was doomed to burn out quickly. Because the style was at odds with practicality, it could not be applied to ordinary everyday life. In 1987, after Black Monday, when the stock market crashed, the Memphis-based group officially announced its closure.

However, unlike most short-lived fads, the Memphis style was too attractive to disappear completely. That’s why some elements of it can still be found until the 1990s in the costumes and graphics of the TV series Saved by the Bell or in the popular ‘Jazz’ design for disposable cups. In the next section, we will talk about where manifestations of the Memphis style can be found these days.

A popular technique is to leave a blank space among the Memphis-style graphic elements for the central object in the composition to create a kind of frame. Alternatively, shapes can be chaotically placed directly behind the object to create a splash of vibrant colour in the background.

Memphis style in miniature

Memphis design has always made a strong impression on people. It is so influential that, like hot sauce, sometimes you only need to add a little to give a design the power it needs.

This is why many designers nowadays prefer to add small, chaotically scattered shapes and lines just to hint at the Memphis style, rather than making the whole design too flashy. This approach allows them to harness some of the boundless energy of this style without making the visuals too provocative.

Textured Memphis pattern

Although the classic Memphis style usually involves solid colours and simple black and white graphic patterns, many contemporary designers are adding different textures to their designs.

This can include watercolour or acrylic colours, sketches, roughly trimmed paper edges and gradients. The idea is not only to create relief to make the Memphis design less intense, but also to add an extra 3D effect to this distinctive style.

Memphis-style lettering

Letters are predictable shapes that can incorporate the madness of Memphis style. Like a star, they can become a compositional focal point that draws attention to itself and captures the surrounding graphic elements.

More often you will see the letters themselves designed in the Memphis style. 3D letters are particularly striking because designers have the ability to use patterns on different planes. This style usually looks best on creative logos or calligraphic designs, which can be creative and colourful, even if it harms legibility.

Memphis Organic Style

Although the Memphis style was originally intended to use strict geometry, many designers are now adding flowing, elongated organic shapes to compositions. This is not a radical change, but rather a natural evolution of the curved lines and circular shapes that were originally popular in Memphis design.

While this use may seem to some to be outside the boundaries of classic Memphis style, tradition has never played a role in the movement. Memphis design has always sought to break the rules, so it makes sense that it has itself inevitably deviated from its norms.

Memphis design’s time is far from over

Memphis style cannot be considered just a silly idea or a freak-out by bored designers. It was the spark that defined the ideas of the decade and inspired an entire generation. The energy of the style, its freedom and joyful colours have not lost their relevance, which is why many people still find it extremely glamorous. However, the boldness of the Memphis style can evoke conflicting feelings. If you want to use it to appeal to your audience, make sure you work with a professional designer who knows exactly what outcome your clients might find distasteful.

Source: (C) 99designs.com

Main photo: Maison & Objet 2019 in Paris