Memphis Design

Memphis Design is an aesthetic that was prevalent in popular culture from roughly 1984 to 1997. It involves bright neon colors, pure geometric shapes, and zig-zagged and squiggly lines. It was created in 1980 by the Italian Memphis Group. The Memphis era was also one of the main inspirations for Vaporwave, Synthwave, and Future Funk.
==History==
Memphis Design was created in 1980 by the design group Memphis Milano from Milan, Italy. They took their name from the song "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again" by Bob Dylan, which was playing during a meeting. The group designed furniture, with their first Memphis show and catalog both being in 1981. The group disbanded in 1987 due to the initial hype of their movement fading.
Although the look for this aesthetic was initially used for furniture, it also expanded into visual art and architecture as well. The Early 1980s had leftover 1970s aesthetics focusing on "Earth tones" like brown, beige, and orange, or in the UK where the New Romantic was the dominant aesthetic, but by 1984–85 the Memphis pastels had begun to influence pop culture more widely with the premiere of Miami Vice. However, it was clear that Memphis Design failed to spread beyond piecemeal uses, and the Memphis Group themselves disbanded formally in 1987 due to the lack of commercial interest.
Memphis group did however launch interests in multiple directions (e.g. Wacky Pomo, Factory Pomo), especially as it diversified from its original architecture and interior design focus. These various strands eventually coalesced into Memphis Lite, an eclectic aesthetic that came to dominate the memories of much of the decade, although dispersed elements of pure Memphis style continued to be produced into the late 90s. While the continuation between pure Memphis design and Memphis Lite is obvious, in practice much retro callbacks to the 80s and 90s refer to Memphis Lite (e.g. Synthwave, Arcadecore etc.). The revival of true Memphis in the 2010s is sometimes referred to as Bougie Design.
==Visuals==
Memphis Design typically uses brightly colored (typically white) backgrounds plastered with geometric shapes with vibrant colors. Pink, yellow, and blue are the most common colors used for said shapes; the Late 1980s and Early 1990s also marked the addition of purple and teal colors to the palette. Zig-zagged and squiggly lines (usually black) also tend to appear alongside the geometric shapes. Memphis also contains similarities to 70s-80s Bauhaus Design, which was famous for appearing on the covers of City Pop albums.
==Media==
===TV Shows===
*Early MTV
*Double Dare (1986)
*Miami Vice (1984)
*Full House (1986-1995)
*Pee-Wee's Playhouse (1986)
*Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987)
*Saved By the Bell (1989)
*Wild & Crazy Kids (1990)
*Mahou no Tenshi Creamy Mami (1983)
*The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
*Make the Grade (1989-1990)
*The Simpsons (1989)
*Rugrats (1991-2004)
*Sailor Moon (1992)
*Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993)
*WWF Golden Era (1982-1992)
*WWF New Generation Era (1993-1997)
*Rocko's Modern Life (1993-1996, 2019 )
*ReBoot (1994-2001)
*ZOOM (1999)
*Cyberchase (2002)
*The Eggs (2004)
*Stranger Things (2016-present)
===Film===
*Ruthless People (1986)
*Short Circuit (1986)
*Wall Street (1987)
*Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)
*Short Circuit 2 (1988)
*Beetlejuice (1988)
*Back To The Future Part II (1989)
*Home Alone (1990)
*Terminator 2 (1991)
*A Goofy Movie (1995)
*Barbie (2023)
===Video Games===
*Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (1989)
*Sonic the Hedgehog 1-3&K (1991-1994) (Specifically the Japanese Boxart)
*Kid Pix 1-Studio (1989-1995) 
*ToeJam & Earl (1991-2019)
*Lego Island (1997)
*Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)
===Music===
*New Jack Swing
*Microsoft Multimedia Pack for Windows 3.1 MIDI demo files (1993)
*Golden age of Hip Hop
*Synthpop
*Early Rave/Breakbeat/Hardcore/Jungle music (1989-1993)
*Hair metal
*Adult contemporary
*New Age
*Grunge
*Jimmy Edgar(early works)
*Michael Jackson's Thriller and Bad albums
==Criticism==
While Memphis Design challenged traditional design norms with its bold, primary colors and geometric shape, its almost extremist approach resulted in furniture that was often grotesque, impractical and impossible to design around in an actual average 80s home. Comments have described it as "a riot of color and materials that often overwhelmed a piece's original intent"https://www.sfgate.com/homeandgarden/article/Collectors-give-80s-postmodernist-design-2nd-look-2517937.php and, discussing its use in Miami Vice, "telegraph[ing] a clear message: things ain’t right in Miami".http://preppiesoftheapocalypse.blogspot.com/2009/01/ten-things-that-make-miami-vice-awesome.html
==Influence==
Because of the popularity and commonality of the Memphis look during the 1980s and Early 1990s, the Memphis aesthetic can often find its way into the aesthetics that were directly inspired by the 80s and 90s, namely Synthwave (especially some of the poppier elements of the genre) and Vaporwave (Vapor95 offers clothing that are very clearly inspired by the Memphis aesthetic, but more famously, Vaporwave artist Disasteradio, under the Eyeliner moniker, released the album Buy Now, which is very clearly inspired by the Memphis look.https://disasteradio.bandcamp.com/album/buy-now-deluxe-edition
Two related aesthetics emerged in the '90s called Wacky Pomo (also known as Memphis Pomo) and Memphis Jr., and their presence was common in child-oriented advertisements, shops, and museums.https://cari.institute/aesthetics/wacky-pomohttps://cari.institute/aesthetics/memphis-jr
==Gallery==
Tawaraya Boxing Ring, by Masanori Umeda.jpeg|Tawaraya Boxing Ring, by Masanori Umeda, 1981, wooden ring covered in decorative laminate, traditional Japanese tatami made of woven straw, metal and lacquered wood elements, upholstered cushion covered in silk
Carlton bookcase, by Ettore Sottsass, 1981, wood veneer and plastic laminate.webp|Carlton bookcase, by Ettore Sottsass, 1981, wood veneer and plastic laminate
Plaza dressing table and stool, by Michael Graves, 1981, painted wood, natural rosehips, mirrors and bulbs.webp|Plaza dressing table and stool, by Michael Graves, 1981, painted wood, natural rosehips, mirrors and bulbs
Kristall table, by Michele de Lucchi, 1981, unknown materials.jpeg|Kristall table, by Michele de Lucchi, 1981, unknown materials
Ocanic Light, by Michele De Lucchi, 1981, painted metal.jpeg|Ocanic light, by Michele De Lucchi, 1981, painted metal
Super Lamp, by Martine Bedine, 1981, glazed stoneware, rubber and chrome-plated steel.jpeg|Super Lamp, by Martine Bedine, 1981, glazed stoneware, rubber and chrome-plated steel
Bel-Air armchair, by Peter Shire, 1982.jpeg|Bel-Air armchair, by Peter Shire, 1982, unknown materials
Metropole clock, by George J. Sowden, 1982, unknown materials.jpeg|Metropole clock, by George J. Sowden, 1982, unknown materials
Sol fruit bowl, by Ettore Sottsass, 1982, blown glass modelled with heat.webp|Sol fruit bowl, by Ettore Sottsass, 1982, blown glass modelled with heat
Chairs, by Michele de Lucchi, 1983, metal and wood with epoxy lacquer, and plastic.jpeg|Chairs, by Michele de Lucchi, 1983, metal and wood with epoxy lacquer, and plastic
Flamingo table, by Michele de Lucchi, 1983, lacquered wood, plastic laminate and lacquered steel.webp|Flamingo table, by Michele de Lucchi, 1983, lacquered wood, plastic laminate and lacquered steel
Carrot vase, by Nathalie du Pasquier, 1985, hand-painted ceramic vase with kiln-sublimated decorative decals.jpeg|Carrot vase, by Nathalie du Pasquier, 1985, hand-painted ceramic vase with kiln-sublimated decorative decals
Enorme telephone, by Ettore Sottsass, 1986, unknown materials.jpeg|Enorme telephone, by Ettore Sottsass, 1986, unknown materials
Karl Lagerfeld's apartment with designs by Memphis in Monte Carlo, Monaco, 1982.jpeg|Karl Lagerfeld's apartment with designs by Memphis in Monte Carlo, Monaco, 1982
Brochure of "Memphis Milano in London" exhibition held at The Boilerhouse, Victoria & Albert Museum, 1982.jpeg|Brochure of "Memphis Milano in London" exhibition held at The Boilerhouse, Victoria & Albert Museum, 1982
File:miami vice 2.JPG
File:miami vic 3.JPG
File:bushido set design.JPG
File:Miami vice.JPG
File:661466243_Bildschirmfoto2021-03-16um23_33_22.thumb.png.ff7528d9d019e0cfa907e69d7fa45b26.png
File:8zfz573gqv071.jpg | The Make the grade set is an unusually late example of Memphis Design
File:Zooble.webp|Zooble from The Amazing Digital Circus.
File:Tea-pot-memphis.jpg|Dior 2011 Winter/Fall collection inspired by Memphis Design objects
File:Memphis-pastel-table-match-up.jpg
File:Memphis-shape-match-up.jpg
File:Wolf_house.jpg|Wolf House, Ridgeway, Colorado (1988)
File:Casa olabuenaga.jpg|Casa Olabuenaga, Maui (1997)
File:Casa_olabuenaga_2.jpg|Casa Olabuenaga, Maui (1997)
File:ted tokio tanaka 1.jpg|California Beach Rock ‘N Sushi, Los Angeles (1985), Ted Tokio Tanaka, murals by Doug Kanegawa
File:ted tokio tanaka 2.jpg| The restaurant straddles pure Memphis Design and Memphis Lite, with restrained, teal color palette and use of glass of the latter
==References==
Category:Art movements
Category:Visual
Category:Art
Category:Architecture
Category:Design Aesthetics
Category:Electronic
Category:1980s
Category:1990s
Category:Rainbow
Category:Neons
Category:Bright
Category:Italian
Category:European
Category:Romance
Category:Y2K