Project Description: I'm a sucker for a great theme project. Recently, I set out to create a collection of magazine covers inspired by popular styles from different decades of the 20th - early 21st century. Rather than go with an actual magazine, I decided to invent a fictional one - but what to call it? My eye happened to land on a chess piece and so 'Endgame' was born. Here you'll see the results, complete with breakdowns of a few elements from each style. Enjoy!
1910s - Cubism
Elements of Cubism:
Major influences included Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque
Rejection of traditional realism and linear vantage points
Abstract, fragmented objects build from a series of distinct planes
Use of geometric shapes and multiple perspectives
Rejection of traditional realism and linear vantage points
Abstract, fragmented objects build from a series of distinct planes
Use of geometric shapes and multiple perspectives
1920s - Art Deco
Elements of Art Deco:
Use of bold lines, geometric shapes, and decorative elements
Themes reflected glamor and opulence
Commonly used high contrast and/or metallic colors
Emphasis on symmetry and intricate details
Themes reflected glamor and opulence
Commonly used high contrast and/or metallic colors
Emphasis on symmetry and intricate details
1930s - Futurism
Elements of Futurism:
Often depicted speed and energy
Glorified modernization, industry, and sometimes war
Celebrated emerging technology like the latest planes, cars, and trains
Often used geometric forms and/or divisionism (painting in dots or small lines)
Glorified modernization, industry, and sometimes war
Celebrated emerging technology like the latest planes, cars, and trains
Often used geometric forms and/or divisionism (painting in dots or small lines)
1940s - Constructivism
Elements of Constructivism:
Emphasized art as a tool for social advocacy
Became aligned with propaganda during war years
Featured geometric shapes, strong lines, and bright primary colors
Favored industrial (rather than decorative) elements
Became aligned with propaganda during war years
Featured geometric shapes, strong lines, and bright primary colors
Favored industrial (rather than decorative) elements
1950s - Swiss/International Style
Elements of Constructivism:
Emphasized the function and practical use of art
Focus on clean lines, simplicity, and white space
Often constructed using grid systems
Preferred clean, class san serif fonts
Focus on clean lines, simplicity, and white space
Often constructed using grid systems
Preferred clean, class san serif fonts
1960s - Mod
Common 1960s Design Elements:
Vibrant color palettes
Curvilinear shapes
Joyful, playful, lighthearted
Hand-drawn illustrations and lettering
Curvilinear shapes
Joyful, playful, lighthearted
Hand-drawn illustrations and lettering
1970s - Pop Art
Elements of Pop Art:
Bold, bright colors
Repetition
Focus on subjects from everyday and popular culture
Merged high art with techniques from “low” art like comic books and advertising
Repetition
Focus on subjects from everyday and popular culture
Merged high art with techniques from “low” art like comic books and advertising
1980s - Punk
Elements of Punk:
Unpolished yet fun DIY-type collages
Ransom note or rub down lettering was common
Stencils and stamps
Bright, abrasive, or saturated colors
Unpolished yet fun DIY-type collages
Ransom note or rub down lettering was common
Stencils and stamps
Bright, abrasive, or saturated colors
1990s - Memphis Style
Elements of Memphis Style:
Delightfully kitschy and tacky
Mixture of bright and pastel colors
Abstract shapes
Bold, often clashing patterns
Mixture of bright and pastel colors
Abstract shapes
Bold, often clashing patterns
2000s - Y2K
Elements of Y2K:
Glossy, reflective, or shiny surfaces.
Bright, highly saturated colors. Lots of pink.
Chunky, blocky, or bubbly fonts
Youthful charm
Bright, highly saturated colors. Lots of pink.
Chunky, blocky, or bubbly fonts
Youthful charm
Thanks!
