History of Art & Design 101 | The Style Spectrum

Modern take on historic storytelling

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Style is a language of personality. Art's history sheds light onto the patterns in designs evolution over time, from art movement to art movement. Knowledge that empowers us to understand, predict, and influence design. Stories that provide us with the foundation needed for the creative jobs of tomorrow.

Looking Back Through Art

Historic Art Movements

Evolutionary Pathways

Look for elements of The Style Spectrum's featured art you recognize blended into design around you today, in home decor magazines, or the wall of your favorite local coffee shop.

Historic work constantly re-inspires contemporary design. It layers, forever finding new ways to tell the same visual stories.

Pay attention to the art that preceded a movement and what it turned into. Similar to modern graphic design across the web or fresh styles that fashion adopts, they all evolve as the months and seasons pass.

Observing Patterns

» Strengthen our own foundation for creative work
» Better understand others by how they visually express themselves
» Develop personal style
» Anticipate the non-stop evolution and design's next move

Design Style Spectrum

12 Art Movements Relevant Today

Sustainable Eco-friendly Design

Withstanding Climate Change Fury

At our current pivotal juncture, design is beginning to reflect the reality of our surroundings.

Modern life's awareness has given rise to a recognizable design ethos—one that embraces style while representing our response to mitigate climate disasters.

Uncover how it intertwines aesthetics with a sustainable, resilient vision of the future.

Biophilic Design

Echoing the Harmony of Nature

A compelling trend of artful infusion of interiors with the natural world.

Its essence lies in creating spaces that encourage us to remember how much we love nature; that we want to coexist. This is a hopeful effort at connecting society to the profound consequences that seem to be otherwise diminished by being in the news daily.

Explore the visual aspects and underlying principles.

Industrial Design

Form Follows Function

This concept emerged as a defining principle in design spanning 1920s to 1940s, championing utilitarian simplicity in every detail.

Initially thriving during its era, this style has surged in modern popularity. Look towards the sleek lines of tech or the minimalist elegance of furniture. Or find it in popular restaurants.

Dig into why the design philosophy has found new relevance.

Post-modernism

Seeking Innovation

An embrace of the unconventional and unexpected from 1970s to 1990s.

Beyond its historical significance, it has an unconventional spirit that prompts us to question traditional paradigms and explore — perhaps shaping sustainable design approaches of tomorrow.

It lives on today through trendsetters aspiring towards leaving distinctive marks on today's design landscape.

Brutalism

Unapologetically Concrete

Easily defined by its composition material and bold character, spawned in 1950s to 1970s.

Its impact on contemporary architectural undeniable as its reminder of Urban Heat Islands (is it surprising climate change is becoming part of most every conversation?). In a rather aggressive way it is nudging us towards finding more livable approaches to architecture and design and reevaluate past choices.

Learning about its legacy prompts us to look towards a resilient future.

Scandinavian Design

Poignant Principles

Clean lines and functional beauty flourished in the 1950s and 1960s.

Most evident today in contemporary interiors where simplicity meets elegance. Another timeless guide for trend spotters. It relevance extends beyond aesthetics, pointing towards what functional design means today.

You'll see how its principles shape spaces in a way that echos the changing mentality of society towards weather.

Bauhaus

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Grounding art and function's marriage in 1919 to 1933.

Born as a collaborative effort to bridge the gap between traditional art and industrial design, the movement brought together artists, craftsmen, and designers. This effort left an indelible mark on design. It built the foundation for today's era of versatile artistry, inspiring our current innovative creative landscape — like combining Art History and Astrology!

Dig into their focus on integration of creativity and utility through innovation.

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Art Deco

Geometric Opulence

Defined by opulence and geometric elegance, the design era of the 1920s and 1930s remains an everlasting source of trendsetting inspiration.

Today, as our obsession with Maximalism marks a shift from minimalism, it's fascinating to recognize how the formless evolves into the geometric, often drawing inspiration from the historic Art Deco movement. This enduring style has influenced the ever-evolving landscape of design more than once.

Get insight into where today's love for Maximalism is headed next.

Mid-Century Modern

Timeless Sophistication

This design era of the 1940s to the 1960s has long served as a touchstone for today's design trailblazers.

Recognize it from our current virtual obsession, and note how trends tend to exhaust themselves before shifting. This is another style that offers a glimpse into where our collective design taste is headed next.

Discover how Mid-Century Modern maintains this enduring allure.

Maximalism

Organized Chaos

It's not difficult to spot Maximalism everywhere in the contemporary design landscape.

Defined by eclectic chaos and vibrant excess, this daring and often intricate style can be a challenge to master. It is so "now" — this recent resurgence offers valuable insight into aesthetic evolution. From the structure reminiscent of Art Deco to the spatial and contextual shifts akin to Pop Art and even the mesmerizing world of Vaporwave.

Note how the louder design trends quickly rise and shift, and how Maximalism is both a reflection and a catalyst of our ever-changing design sensibilities.

Minimalism

Tranquil Simplicity

Key to understanding and setting trends across the decades.

Notably, it stands out amidst the rather abrupt move away from minimalism into the vibrant world of Maximalism. However, even as design preferences shift, Minimalism leaves an mark on our collective aesthetic consciousness. Its enduring legacy is, in part, due to our craving both simplicity and extravagance.

It lives on today through trendsetters aspiring towards leaving distinctive marks on today's design landscape.

Pop-Art

Doja Cat Is Andy Warhol

Emerging in the 1950s and 1960s, Pop-Art's influence transcends its origins.

Defined by vibrant colors and bold patterns, its legacy continues to inspire modern visionaries, such as musical and visual artist Doja Cat, often considered our contemporary equivalent to the iconic Andy Warhol.

Explore the dynamic and colorful movement, and the imagination of those who dare to push boundaries and challenge convention.