The Memphis Group
Postmodernism was probably the most radical and also the most misunderstood style of the 20th century. it offered creative freedom and self-awareness, breaking all the rules of convention, defying definition and pronouncing the death of Modernism. It was unstable, unstoppable and thrilling. The photo below describes postmodernism perfectly; the previous modernism was all about only keep the most crucial elements of a design, create a very minimal feel, whereas postmodernism is the opposite, instead of eliminating elements, elements are added.
One of the key supporters of the movement were the Memphis Group. The Memphis Group was an Italian design and architecture group founded by Ettore Sottsass in 1980 that designed Postmodern furniture, fabrics, ceramics, glass, and metal objects. The Memphis group’s work often incorporated plastic laminate and was characterized by ephemeral design featuring colorful and abstract decoration as well as asymmetrical shapes, sometimes getting into exotic or earlier styles.
The Memphis Group totally reimagined what design meant, their work was so different and abstract, that it could be categorized as art rather than furniture. They basically transformed abstract art into physical designs. Since this is how they went about designing, they had endless design freedom.
Citations
Carson, N. (2018, January 19). 10 iconic examples of Memphis design. Retrieved from https://www.creativebloq.com/inspiration/10-iconic-examples-of-memphis-design