No, you’re not in a time warp, the 90s really are back!
The 90s are making a comeback across the creative industries and all signs point to the decade’s finest trends sticking around for a while!
Over the last couple of years we have seen a number of 90s trends beginning to resurface…
From the return in popularity of simple, minimalistic web designs to the featuring some absolute 90s classics like layered spaghetti straps, it’s clear to see that 2018 is the year the 90s hits back!
Let’s rewind for a minute – what was so great about the 90s?
Aside from a little prejudice from me as a loyal 90s kid, the 1990s was a decade packed full of innovation, colour explosions and bold statements. From memorable fashion disasters like my very own lime green puffer jacket, to revolutionary moments like the first ever version of Photoshop in 1990, there’s no shortage of things to thank the 90s for.
Branding and design – how the 90s have impacted the direction for 2018
Keep your content on-trend with that perfect 90s’ feel as we give you an insight into how the 90s can influence your designs this year.
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Eye-catching designs
It’s no surprise that as retailers like ASOS start to incorporate 90s fashion styles into their clothing range, they’re also adapting their ads to suit the new style. Combining bold colours with chunky text is both eye-catching and easy to read and immediately gives content a retro feel. Add the ultimate 90s touch by including colourful patterns or illustrations in your designs.
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Big text, minimal words
Let’s be honest, there wasn’t much scope for creativity when creating a web page in the 90s. Big font for your header, a couple of low-res images and a paragraph or three in Courier New font.  But you might be surprised to hear that this simple layout (be it with or without the 90s font) is actually back in style.
are pointing to the benefits of a minimalist layout, with large font, minimal text and an appealing image. Simple, to the point, easily scannable within a few seconds. It’s what the next generation are looking for, especially when you consider you only have an average of 8 seconds to grab their attention. What’s more, these simple designs adapt well onto mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, which is a massive plus as mobile optimisation becomes the main focal point of designs.
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Simple logo designs
Before tools like Photoshop became a staple in the design world, things were much, much simpler. We’ve been able to up the complexity in designs as technology has developed, but in some cases, less definitely does mean more.
There is something about a simplistic, clean-looking logo that makes a brand stand out. This year it’s all about going back to basics and keeping things simple, just like we did in the 90s! The natural move towards simplified designs is depicted really well in as they’ve changed over the years. I think you’ll be surprised at the simplicity of the final designs.
Photography – how the 90s have impacted the direction for 2018
It’s not just the design world that’s seeing influences from the 90s! From apps and filters that let you turn your mobile videos into retro camcorder-style films, to a resurgence in Polaroid photography. The ’90s are hitting back in the photography world too and I for one am absolutely loving it! Let me fill you in on some of the key ways the ’90s are impacting the photography scene today…
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’90s style photography
The return of 90s-style photography can be seen across the photography world. From fashion shoots for magazines to ‘real people’ advertising campaigns – the influence of the ’90s is everywhere. Even across popular culture there has been a resurgence of ’90s styling including the slightly controversial photography shared by Kim Kardashian of her and her family. But, as with everything she does, it inspired millions of people to create similar content. There have been a whole host of ‘how-to’ tutorial videos to teach you how to achieve ‘the look’ as well as a whole range of .
Social media is flooded with ’90s style photography and fashion – so if you want proof that the ’90s are back just search #90s on your favourite social sites.
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The return of the polaroid
It’s not just filters that are enabling us to create that 90s feel, the ultimate 90s staple is back for another decade!
One recent and incredibly vibrant project comes from who’ve teamed up to create an epic display of Polaroids (and fashion statements) over the last 6 decades. Each decade’s shoot features an iconic look and, of course, the latest Polaroid from the decade. The perfect demonstration of not only the sheer timelessness of a Polaroid, but also of what 90s photography was all about: fun!
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The 1994 camcorder
There is something comforting about an old-school VHS with the date and time placed firmly in the corner of the screen. If you weren’t lucky enough to enjoy a real camcorder experience, don’t fret, there’s an app for that! There are loads of apps that let you transform your 12 megapixel iPhone camera into 1994 camcorder. Also popular at the moment are filter packs for programmes like Lightroom, which enable you to recreate different film styles to match those that were around in the 90s.
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90s’ style staging
There is growing popularity for photography shoots that encapsulate 90s styling elements with modern day twists. It’s unsurprising, given that so many people are already trying to recreate that nostalgic 90s feeling with filters and apps!
Watch out for 90s influences in…
Interior Design
From vibrant wallpaper prints to simplistic black and white rooms, ’90s interior design is an influencer once again.
Music
Ever heard ‘Finesse’ by Bruno Mars or, even better, seen the music video? It’s retro, it’s vibrant, it’s loud and the song is catchy as anything! The ’90s music scene is resurfacing, with The Spice Girls rumoured to go on tour later this year and ’90s rap artist Eminem (who’s never really left the spotlight) set to headline Coachella 2018.
Fashion
With showing 90s staples like the spaghetti strap top making an appearance on the catwalk, it’s clear to see this year’s fashion choices are taking a huge dollop of influence from the 90s.
Some major milestones from the 90s that changed our lives…
The 90s was a decade that saw some ground-breaking moments that paved the way for the creative industries as we know them today.
1990 – Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web – (aka the Internet to those lucky enough to not experience a dial-up connection!)
1990 – the birth of Photoshop 1.0, exclusively for Macintosh. The development meant that graphic design would never be the same again
1992 – the reinvented and seemingly more modest Starbucks logo
1994 – the growth of e-commerce business begins! Amazon was launched in July 1994, followed by eBay in 1995, demonstrating the sheer potential of the digital world
1998 – Google changed its logo a whopping three times in a year (1998-1999). Technology was advancing and people were starting to adapt to a much more versatile and expressive creative environment
1999 – saw the release of an app called Napster which began the revolutionary journey of free digital content sharing. Beginning with the transfer of digital audio files in the form of an mp3 file, this first step quickly excelled at the turn of the millennium with a generation that became accustomed to the concept of accessing free digital content.