Oncecalleda shotgun wedding betweenBauhausand Fisher-Price, Memphis design is now taken seriously by the design community.
And, over 40 years after its creation, it continues to have a lasting influence on design.
What is Memphis Design?
Memphis is a design movement that began in 1981.
Designer Ettore Sottsass founded the Memphis Group with other designers and architects.
Like many creative movements, Memphis was a reaction against the status quo.
The 1950s/60s mid-century modern and 1970s minimalism were about structure and straight lines.
The geometric shapes ofArt Deco, the color palette ofPop Art, and 1950s kitsch inspired their unusual aesthetic.
Their style, while attention-grabbing, was commercially rejected and instead attracted a cult following.
DesignerKarl Lagerfeldwas a fan and bought the entirety of Sottsass first collection.
Its aesthetic can be seen on the set ofSaved by the BellandPee-wees Playhouse.
How is Memphis design making a comeback?
Memphis design began to reemerge in 2005 and 2006.
The LACMA in Los Angeles exhibited a survey of Sottsass designs a year before he passed away.
But, the squiggles, bright colors, and wacky shapes still live on, thanks to contemporary designers.
