Memphis Lite (or contempo-eclectic[1]) is the corporatized, more palatable direct evolution of Memphis Design that arose because the latter was poorly suited to incorporation into existing home designs.
History[]
Memphis Lite emerged in the 1980s as a diluted, consumer-grade iteration of the avant-garde Memphis Design movement of the 1980s. While true Memphis Design challenged traditional design norms with its bold colors, geometric shapes, and playful patterns, it was poorly suited to consumer products, and provided little thoughts in the real of graphic and fabric design. Memphis lite rapidly evolved to tone down the excesses of Memphis Design through less saturated colors and earthier palette and soon incorporated elements of contemporary and previous aesthetics.
Notable borrowings include the chaotic arrangements and bold patterns of the Pacific Punk Wave, and Googie elements such as misaligned borders and distinct groups of overlapping abstract shapes separate by blank space. Memphis lite also introduced art deco and cubist figurative elements to an otherwise largely abstract design landscape. Other innovations of Memphis lite include the "scribbly" and brushstroke motifs (as demonstrated by the iconic Jazz Cup design), illusory contours created by stippled or striped fillings lacking outlines, and gradients, contrasting with Memphis' preference for flat colors and uninterrupted patterns.
This fusion of influences allowed Memphis lite to generate a broad palette of design options, particularly in fabric and fashion, which alongside an innovative CMYK palette often heavy on pastels and teals, magentas, purples and aquas, generated a visual that came to dominate the memories of the era. This fluidity and hybridity have contributed to the enduring appeal and versatility of Memphis-inspired aesthetics across various design disciplines. Memphis lite's complete overshadowing of its parent in advertising, fashion and certain televisual works (such as game show sets) allowed Memphis Lite to supplant Memphis to the point that most Memphis revivals really harken to the Memphis lite aesthetic, a peculiarity most noticeable with the color palette stereotypical of Synthwave and Vaporwave.
Visuals[]
- Either of different palettes:
- Bold flat or pastel colors
- CMYK shades, particularly the combination of of at least two of teal/aqua, pink/magenta and purple.
- Irregular stippled patterns with dots, irregular dashes or other shapes like triangles
- Illusory contours from striped or stippled patterns
- Stippled gradients
- Misaligned borders
- Solid drop shadows
- Two types of patterns:
- Busy, abstract patterns covering the entire planes (these were especially prominent in furniture design)
- Patterns composed of asymmetrical assemblages of shapes where each groups forms a separate unit on a flat or subdued pattern background (i.e. stipples)
- Misaligned googie borders
- Outlined script fonts, often combined with a blockier font
- Art Deco-like combinations of dots, circles and lines
- Art Deco or cubist decorative pieces
- Heavy use of glass and chrome as a design element
- Abstract statement pieces combining all of the above in a cubic or abstract expressionist framework
Media[]
Interior design in sitcoms and movies continued to focus on the same aesthetics that Memphis failed to replace, reflecting the failure of Memphis Lite to impose itself in consumer interior design. Like its predecessor, Memphis Lite found much more success in commercial spaces like malls and stores and in set designs for talk or game shows. Advertisement also made large use of the aesthetic.
TV Shows[]
- Let's Make a Deal (1984-1986)
- Jem and the Holograms (1985-1988)
- Small Wonder (1985-1989, logo design)
- Bumper Stumpers (Canada, 1987-1990)
- Talk About (Canada, 1988-1990)
- Make the Grade (1989, 1990)
- Saved by the Bell (1989-1993)
- Nickelodeon Arcade (1992)
- Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog (1993–1996)
- Doug (1993-1999)
- Piment fort (Canada, 1993-2001)
- 4 et demi... (Canada, 1994-2001, credit / logo design)
- Friends (1994-2004, logo design only)
Movies[]
- Dirty Dancing (1987)
- Just Temporary (TV movie, 1989)
- The Sandlot (1993, logo design)
- Little Giants (1994, logo design)
- A Goofy Movie (1995)
- Digimon: The Movie (1999-2000)
- Zenon, Girl of the 21st Century (1999)
Music[]
- Tiffany - "You and Me" (animated sequence in the Jetsons, 1997)
- Paula Abdul - "Opposites Attract" (1990)
Criticism[]
While true Memphis Design challenged traditional design norms with its bold, primary colors and geometric shape, its almost extremist approach resulted in furniture that was viewed grotesque, and at best 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"[2] and [about its use in Miami Vice] "telegraph[ing] a clear message: things ain't right in Miami"[3]
Gallery[]
