1980s: The decade that made us
How have 1980s technological ideas and inven5ons impacted today’s graphic design?
What I aim to achieve‌
I aim to investigate how 1980s technology and ideas have influenced future and ultimately today’s design, showing how this was the decade that made us who we are today. (Same ideas but designed differently) I aim to explore if there would be a need for some of the types of design today without the technological advances made in the 1980s.
Areas to explore‌
1980s technological inventions and advances Influences on 1980s design Key design figures in the 1980s The impact of technology and its effect on design back then The technologic predictions made in Back to the Future part 2 What ideas/predictions are the same as today Would we have the need for the same types design now without the advances in technology back then
Methodology‌
For the research side I will take the Hermeneutic approach, start to look at the variety of perspectives on 1980s thinking and how these are applied to individual examples of design back then and how this is reflected/changed today and its effect of the types of design today. Along with various data collection through surveys and peoples verbal opinions through interviews. For the practical side I will have a reflective practice in which I investigate and experiment with the application of 1980s graphic design techniques to media formats of today.
Audience‌
Those who could remember the 1980s and looking for a nostalgic view of how that decade still affects them now in terms of technology and design.
How this could possibly develop into a practical piece‌
Apply 1980s design trends to media platforms of today, such as app/digital design.
Limitations and problems‌
I have no first hand experience of the 1980s therefore I am going to rely on the research of others. Unlikely to be able to interview designers from the 1980s and those who invented the technology. At this stage the topic may need to be narrowed down further with specific case studies which are yet unknown. Or narrowed down to a specific country either American or British 1980s. Limitations of 1980s design and the limitations of this being translated onto today’s design formats.