Embracing the Raw Beauty of Brutalist Design
Table Of Content
Brutalism emerged in Europe in the 1950s as countries sought to rebuild after World War II. One of the primary reasons this bare-bones style of design was pursued was because it was cost- and resource-efficient. While exposed concrete and brick facades and monochromatic palettes might not have led to the most attractive buildings, they were easier and cheaper to construct. While many brutalist websites share these traits, the designs aren’t always executed in the same manner — especially when web designers infuse brutalism into modern design techniques. For instance, the Whitney Museum website contains a predictable structure by today’s web design standards while also utilizing lots of imagery.
Simplicity often equals efficiency
For reference, you can check the below example where you will see simple CSS Buttons and a nav bar with no advanced styling. In this beginner’s guide, we will explore Neobrutalism design in detail so that you can also start your next project with this. In the world of evolving design interfaces, designers use a wide range of designs.
The user’s needs come first
Their site also uses a combination of black, white and “hyperlink” blue, which evokes the early days of the web, and in this sense uses one of the web’s “raw” materials. However, some of the key features that it often includes are repetitive, geometrical patterns; honesty about materials; social vision; and integrity of function. Brutalism is a bold, counterintuitive take on raw, eye-catching visual design—and can be difficult to pin down with a definition, since it essentially aims to defy definition. Brutalism is a bold web design trend that seems to rise and fall with the same regularity as breathing. Brutalism in web design is creative, experimental, and unique, and we’ve singled out the best examples that illustrate the unparalleled beauty of this style. It’s cyclic, reflecting the broader ebb and flow of design innovation.
These are the perfect holiday cards for Brutalism fans - Fast Company
These are the perfect holiday cards for Brutalism fans.
Posted: Mon, 03 Dec 2018 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Why is neo brutalism so popular right now?
Imagine text spilling across the page, images cut off at odd angles, or elements defying the design norms. It's a deliberate disruption, challenging how we visually consume information. Many of these relics remain around the world, with some of the most imposing and iconic buildings showcasing brutalist architecture.
When brutalism first entered the scene, it was a practical and efficient way to construct buildings. It also challenged the artificiality and lightness that was seen everywhere else. The goal is to take the resources they have and implement them in a way that effectively gets the point across. Brutalism is a style of design that originated in the field of architecture in the 1950s. The word “brutalism” comes from the French brut, which translates to “raw”.
Your Guide to Creating UX Problem Statements
However, this rule-bending design technique isn’t always well-received, no matter how closely you follow its basic principles. Drudge Report is a news aggregation website that’s been around nearly as long as Craigslist has. Just like Craigslist, Drudge Report has maintained its brutalist style to this day. Apelido & Apelido is a quirky digital design studio with an equally quirky website.
The 1950's Graphic Design Style
"The reaction, like minimalism responding to loud prints in interior design, are styles like neo brutalism. It is unique and, for now, gives a clean modern impression." Another criticism of brutalism graphic design is its perceived difficulty in navigation. Critics argue that the unconventional layouts and disregard for traditional design principles can make it challenging for users to navigate and understand the content.
Strive to produce designs of integrity
In this article, we'll learn all about what brutalism is in graphic design and how 90s graphic design trends are influencing a new hybrid. Saul Bass (1920 – 1996) was instrumental in create a new American Minimalism in modern graphic design. With economy of color and utilizing almost rough, elemental forms his designs have become icons of the era, with many of his logo and corporate identity works still in use today. Don’t break your visual hierarchy, navigation, or interaction design just for the sake of novelty. And stick to pure brutalism, while avoiding antidesign like the plague it’ll be for your business metrics. Web brutalism is beginning to take on a new meaning, quite different from the spirit of the architectural movement.
Brutalism’s revival in digital design
Bold typography definitely benefits this design, and although the colors clash in certain areas, it's an effect that embodies the unique brutalist appeal. By nature of being rough and unrefined, graphics in brutalist web design are often minimalistic. Web designers intentionally use simple graphics (such as objects with elementary shapes like ovals and rectangles) to focus more attention on content. As with any artistic movement, the views on Brutalist design in contemporary art and design are likely to evolve with changing cultural tastes and design trends. Nevertheless, the reinterpretation of Brutalism demonstrates how historical design movements can inspire new and innovative expressions, revitalizing iconic styles for contemporary audiences.
The links are also organized haphazardly on the page and each section is divided by thin black lines. Visitors encounter random animations, an interactive video, and a guestbook in lieu of a traditional contact form. That said, the majority of this site is what you would call brutalist in design — that goes for the open navigation at the top of the site that displays all pages without the need for engagement.
Her graphic design website communicates the passion she has for her profession. Every element of the website, be it a text or imagery, expresses personality and immerses visitors in a visual raw, yet sophisticated journey. High contrast is used to communicate important information at a glance and convey a sense of raw energy. Interestingly, it's possible to achieve this goal using only one color, which is why many brutalist websites experiment with monochromatic color schemes.
Brutalist graphic design in web form isn’t afraid to challenge your expectations. This simplicity, this rawness, it’s what made those early websites work so well. Modular designs, where everything fits together like a puzzle, are a big deal here.
The main philosophy of this design is rooted in the belief that architectural design should prioritize functionality, honesty, and social purpose. Similarly, designs that prioritize simplicity, functionality, and a departure from the sleek and polished designs are called Neu Brutalism or New Brutalism Designs. Brutalist designers want to break away from the stale, cookie-cutter, premade-template sites that dominate the web today.
The design landscape is constantly changing, and brutalism must adapt to remain relevant and impactful. As new technological advancements followed, a new type of modernist movement emerged. Constructivism from the 1920s was influenced by the Bauhaus school and the early work of Le Corbusier. His main proposal was to destroy historical buildings to make room to create modern cities. His vision changed the European urban planning and landscape forever in order to create functional housing for people displaced by war. This utilitarian approach inspired many architects, but the buildings were not the most aesthetically pleasing things to see.
Outside of architecture, brutalist aesthetics were adopted other design fields, such as art, graphic design and fashion. In this article, we’ll discuss what brutalism is (web brutalism, in particular) and share examples of how websites have embraced this web design trend. Minimalism, however, aims to balance simplicity with beauty, so the details still matter. Default CMS settings, system fonts, and overused color palettes rarely have any place in minimalism. Instead, web designers carefully plot out every detail related to spacing, hierarchy, symmetry, and more. Brutalism in web design is a crude, plain, and transparent style that prioritizes functionality over form and effectivity over aesthetics.
Multicolored tents, protest art, and an enormous display of hand-painted canvas banners express CUNY student and faculty support for Palestine. Bass designed some of the most iconic corporate logos in North America, including the Bell System logo in 1969, as well as AT&T’s globe logo in 1983 after the breakup of the Bell System. He also designed Continental Airlines’ 1968 jet stream logo and United Airlines’ 1974 tulip logo, which became some of the most recognized airline industry logos of the era. Elevation of Case Study House #20(B) designed by Buff, Straub, and Hensman in 1958. If you’re working on a new project and looking to design a dashboard, then check out the latest Figma UI Kit.
Comments
Post a Comment