Sunday, April 28, 2024

The Rise of Brutalism Graphic Design: Unleashing Creativity and Breaking the Norms

brutalism graphic design

DesignMarch takes place from 24 to 28 April 2024 in Reykjavík, Iceland. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world. The five-day fair highlights innovation in Icelandic design and architecture and focuses on research, circular design, sustainability, radical and socio-political themes, as well as the senses.

brutalism graphic design

Brutalist vs. Minimalist Web Design

Brutalism rose from the ashes of war, gave shelter to the bereft, and 70 years later, its monuments are still standing. Such a powerful style is worth the risk to try out on your design projects every now and then. Despite its popularity, brutalism could ultimately never escape its association with totalitarian regimes. Because these heavy grey slabs were often used to construct institutional buildings, it made them feel even more impenetrable, colorless and imposing. Brutalism throws traditional grids out the window, embracing unconventional, often jarring layouts. Think overlapping elements, asymmetrical arrangements, and unexpected juxtapositions.

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We've also seen how Digital Brutalism is used to create exciting and even chaotic experiences online. There are still some overlaps, but fundamentally Brutalism strives to express a social ideal, whereas Minimalism strives for an individualistic aesthetic or philosophical ideal. The Flat style brings everyday life and imaginative scenes alive in cartoon mode and is usually keenly expressive of human emotions. Most importantly, in a Cyberpunk dystopia, a centralized political power controls access to resources, and people are policed into the social order.

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Social media graphics have evolved greatly, and the brutalist style creates impact, especially when seen on a small device. In graphic design, the Brutalist style has become recognized as a legitimate design style and even incorporates elements of the negative connotations people have with the architectural style. Since the work by these architects and artists was such a harsh contrast to historical design trends, people took the "brut" and critiqued their work as "brutal". As Deville originally pointed out, contemporary brutalism comes across as youthful and rebellious, and it usually aimed at younger, artsier audiences.

It often features oversized, distorted, or fragmented letterforms that demand attention and evoke a sense of rawness and rebellion. Designers who embrace brutalism often experiment with using rough edges, unconventional compositions, and asymmetry to create visually striking pieces. By breaking free from traditional design principles, they are able to create designs that stand out and capture the viewer’s attention.

While both celebrate simplicity, brutalism can be noisy, raw, and brutish. It throws geometric shapes and a monochrome palette at you without the gentleness of minimalism’s soft whites and open spaces. They adopted the same principles in their work, leading to graphics that were as raw and function over form as the buildings themselves. It’s what sets it apart from the glossy, mainstream look that’s everywhere these days. As we throw back to Bauhaus and the starkness of Helvetica, ready yourself to unravel why brutalist graphic design is not just a trend but a resonant voice in the choir of visual communication. This is design uncensored, unapologetic, driven by a desire for authenticity and utility over the mere aesthetics that often decorate our visual landscape.

His sentences are sometimes convoluted, sometimes segmented, and often grammatically incorrect. Truly outrageous antidesign sites (like the conference site for Bloomberg Businessweek Design 2016) can be perceived as edgy and provocative. Even those people who hate the design will visit the site and send it to their peers to criticize it.

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This departure from traditional design principles has allowed for a celebration of individuality and unconventionality in the fashion industry. While brutalism graphic design may prioritize aesthetics and creativity, it does not neglect usability. In fact, the bold typography often used in brutalist designs can enhance the readability and accessibility of content. The use of large, attention-grabbing typefaces ensures that important information stands out, making it easier for users to navigate and understand the content. Typography plays a vital role in brutalism graphic design, as it allows designers to break free from conventional norms and experiment with bold and unconventional typefaces. Rather than conforming to traditional rules of hierarchy and legibility, brutalism typography seeks to make a statement.

Today, Brutalism can also be a mixture of different genres that defies neat categories and the traditional concepts of good design (confusing, we know!). Linearity Curve offers templates for every social media platform and various use case templates for posters, business cards, slides, app store screenshots, and more. This site features a playful overlapping of GIFs, video backgrounds, and scattered menu links in retro web fonts. A play on words, Bear is a bare HTML site that's also a platform for bloggers who want to create free, no-nonsense blogs with no ads or trackers. Brutalism in web design is a more recent trend that echoes the functional look and feel of the early internet.

We can thank the brutalism design era of the 1950s and 1960s for this emerging trend. That's right — even though it's increasingly popular in 2023, its roots date back to the mid-20th century. Brutalism itself is characterized by its focus on utility and rawness. Craigslist is an excellent example of a website created with a brutalist aesthetic. The website barely changed in the last 20 years because it doesn't require a massive redesign.

Its unapologetic and raw aesthetic challenges the status quo, offering a fresh perspective that captivates and evokes emotional responses. As this design style continues to gain traction, its influence can be felt across various industries, shaping the way we perceive and interact with visual communication. One of the defining characteristics of brutalism graphic design is its celebration of imperfections and rawness.

Marta Colmenero illustrates Brutalist landmarks around the world - Dezeen

Marta Colmenero illustrates Brutalist landmarks around the world.

Posted: Sun, 12 Mar 2017 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Brutalist architecture was decoupled from traditions and achieved some of the most inspiring engineering feats. It also made it possible for millions of people to be housed in densely populated areas instead of living on the streets or not living at all. Brutalism is all about raw materials and authenticity; Cyberpunk is about excesses and avatars. Brutalist architecture often features in Cyberpunk backdrops, so, understandably, people confuse the two. Just remember that Brutalism doesn't intend to bear a gloom message, whereas Cyberpunk highlights what went wrong with the world in the future. An Antidesign website or visual will look broken and confusing, often layering information and linking to irrelevant sources.

At the time, Europe had just emerged from the most destructive war in history, with widespread devastation to housing stock, commercial buildings, and civic halls. In these circumstances, there was an attraction to architecture that could be designed and executed quickly and efficiently, with a minimum of unnecessary decoration. Brutalist structures could also rise high, minimizing costs and maximizing capacity. The word brutalism is derived from the French term béton brut, which means raw concrete.

It disrupts the expected reading experience and encourages interpretation and exploration. This bold approach to typography is a hallmark of brutalism and sets it apart from more traditional design styles. Brutalism in the modern age of design has its roots in the ideas of its architectural ancestor.

This guide is like a friendly tour to help you understand what Neo brutalism is all about. Whether you’re already good at designing or just starting, we’ll show you how Neo brutalism can make your designs stand out, be easy to use, and look different from what you’re used to. Many of these antidesigns are created as an inside joke for designers, who can see them as ironic. Though some lump this trend in with brutalism, it doesn’t fit with the original architectural sense of the word. For the sake of clarity, I’ll use the term antidesign to refer to this separate understanding of the movement.

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