Grunge webdesign and visual recycling
Smashing magazine ran a few days ago one of their extensive, image-crowded entry (to many of which I’m a big fan) on how there’s a trend towards ‘grunge’ style in webdesign.
I was somewhat surprised to see this line of visual presentation being brought up as a new new trend in webdesign. I mean—trends are always coming back and being recycled into something a bit different, but when the revival is 20 years apart from the original, it’s easier to digest.
70s typography, color use and proportions where quite ‘in‘ three or four years ago (great examples in MK12’s spots for AXN and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ video for Zephyr Song) and could be considered somewhat new because these characteristics where blended with the new possibilities that technology allowed.
But we’ve been just past grunge, in some aspects we may not even be through with it, and it’s already coming back.
Stuff comes back and, somehow, it seems new to some people. I get caught in that often. Being young may lead, sometimes, to cultural shortcomings (nothing that time can’t cure) and I find myself often in situations where I think something is new while it’s just a re-use or re-style of something a bit older; this happens specially with music and movies.
So, I thought I could show just share three links that seem appropriate to this context:
David Carson
Carson is most probably the one designer that lit te spark on the whole grunge design style of the nineties. Knowing his work and where it came from is essential in the process of one’s compreehension—and hence full ability—to design along this style.
The End of Print
Misprinted Type
Misprinted Type is the body of typographic work fellow Brazilian designer Eduardo Recife dating from 1998 to 2004. Many great fonts, some which free, and some of which have been best sellers at myfonts.com.
Nike Jumpman M4
Very well thought, detailed design elements, with heavy textures and finish, while in a simples structure. One of the very best uses of 3D in Flash I’ve seen so far, and an example of great contemporary grunge design.
While researching for this post, I ran into interesting rant about the cultural and pseudo-political aspects the “appropriation of independent punk rock culture in the mainstream media” which is worth reading (it’s actually an album review, but the few first paragraphs get into that, and might even inspire another post in the future).
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