Exhibit: Nostalgic Aesthetics From the Near Past
Every era has its own design. The right colors or fonts can vividly resurrect the sights and sounds of a bygone era. Enjoy these six handcrafted collages by Countere resident artist Sofia Oaks that warmly evoke the near past—a monumental age in human history where digital technology and human creativity crossed paths for the very first time, and where many of our own memories still linger, encapsulated in tape cassettes, iPods, and old TVs.
Cassette Futurism
The 80s love of the future to come, and the spiritual successor to the retrofuturism of the 50s and 60s. This aesthetic is encapsulated by hardware and grotesque fonts, with an element of sci-fi.
Whimsigoth
The goth aesthetic mixed with the love of nature. The whimsigoth aesthetic was showcased by many celebrities in 90s movies including actresses like Winona Ryder. Whimsigoth usually features celestial elements like stars and moons, dark colors, and Tim Burton-esque details.
Frutiger Aero
A utopian aesthetic from the 2000s that was used mainly commercially. It evoked a fresh feeling and was usually used in conjunction with technology. Visually, it was glossy, airy, and implemented elements from nature such as grass and water.
Global Village Coffeehouse
A very overarching style that existed through the 80s and 90s. It emerged as a reaction to the digital boom in the 80s; people were trying to evoke a feeling of “natural and organic” with hand-drawn and nearly tribal designs. Multinational brands such as Paneras and Starbucks famously utilized this style.
Supermodern Ultragraphic
The quintessential 60s-70s look: bold, colorful, and groovy. Supermodern Ultragraphic can be identified in interior design, fashion, and product design from that era.
Utopian Scholastic
Incredibly nostalgic for anyone who grew up in the 90s. Many describe this style as utopian because of how excited it made them about the world. This aesthetic was used heavily in the “edutainment” category.
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