The 1980s: A Decade of Iconic, Eclectic and Retro Design Trends

In the grand tapestry of recent history, the 1980s style stands out as an era of vibrant colors, distinctive styles, and unforgettable subcultures. This vibrant decade, remembered fondly by Generation X and rediscovered with fascination by Millennials and Generation Z, left an indelible mark on our collective cultural memory. It was a time of experimentation, flamboyance, and individuality, particularly in the realm of graphic retro design. As we revisit the 80s, we find a treasure trove of inspiration in its dynamic design trends.

1980s Retro Design: An Era of Unmatched Individuality

The 80s, often referred to as the “Me Decade,” was an era bursting with personality. This was a decade where boundaries were pushed, rules were broken, and individuality was championed. The design ethos mirrored this cultural sentiment, resulting in a myriad of trends that spanned the spectrum of style, each with its own distinct flavor and charm.

Graphic Design: Pushing Boundaries in All Directions

Graphic design in the 80s was a kaleidoscope of contrasts. It was a time when bigger was better, brighter was beautiful, and boldness was a virtue. Patterns clashed, colors competed, and yet, everything fell into place with an unexpected harmony. This was a reflection of the decade’s “anything goes” attitude, a celebration of diversity and a testament to the unfettered spirit of creativity that defined the time.

80s Typography: A Standout Element

The 80s was a defining era for typography. 80s typefaces were anything but subtle. They were bold, expressive, and unapologetically flashy. The iconic 80s font style can still be seen today in retro design aesthetics, encapsulating the spirit of the decade in every curve and corner.

The Neon Noir: A Fusion of Past and Future

One of the most recognizable trends, thanks to Risky Business and Miami Vice, is neon noir. This style combined dusky or nighttime visuals with striking neon lettering. Against a shadowy backdrop (palm trees and sports cars optional but strongly encouraged), neon noir design made a bold statement in everything from movie posters to album artwork. Fonts in this design trend were often hand-written scripts, like Bayshore and Starlit Drive from Set Sail Studios (follow them on IG).

Riding the Memphis Design Wave

Memphis Style emerged around 1981, and it’s easily recognized by its bold geometric shapes and vivid hues. The Memphis Group was a team of designers based in Milan, which is why the style is also known as “Memphis-Milano.” If you’ve ever caught an episode of Saved by the Bell, you’ve seen Memphis Style firsthand. While it originated as an interior decor style, it found its way everywhere — from apparel to Trapper Keepers and even chunky foam earrings and accessories. Hello Mart’s Blocks From Memphis is a digital art pack inspired by Memphis Style graphic design, and it’s perfect for everything from product packaging to fabric prints, decor accents, logos, websites, merchandise, marketing materials, and publishing.

The 1980s Tropical Retro Design Aesthetics

Tropical design was huge in the 80s, too. Even if you lived 1,000 miles away from the nearest ocean, pastel colors, palm trees, and dolphins (so many dolphins) were printed on everything from Trapper Keepers to notebooks, lunchboxes, t-shirts, and movie posters. Crazy Tropics from Aleksandra Popova is a collection of 12 vector patterns that evoke tropical design with a playful and fun-loving 80s flair.

Rekindling the Magic of 80s Cute

Another colorful design trend from the decade is 80s cute. Perhaps the quintessential examples of 80s cute can be found in Sanrio’s Hello Kitty and anything designed by pop artist Lisa Frank. Frank’s work adorned stationery and stickers that were coveted by girls around the world. It featured bright colors, lots of hearts and rainbows, balloons, cuddly animals, cupcakes, and flowers. Basically, if something could be made cute, Lisa Frank illustrated it in the 1980s design movement. The cute trend continues today, with great stuff like Unicorns & Rainbows Patterns from Irene Demetri and Heart from YouWorkForThem Design Studio, vector sets that make it easy to add a little 80s cute to your retro design projects.  

The Futuristic Aesthetics of 80s Deco

80s Deco recalled design elements of the original Art Deco period, with era-inspired updates that added a more “futuristic” vibe. The logo for Miami Vice is probably one of the most recognizable examples of 80s Deco, featuring sharp sans serif lettering and a signature neon glow. This design style favored minimalism yet still embraced the free spirit of the decade, often with pastel hues because pastel was everywhere. Perper Bloeren from Wordshape is a complete font family with several stylistic sets that totally rocks the 80s Deco design trend. 

Capturing the Digital Evolution of the 80s Design Vibe

In the 80s, computer technology was advancing by leaps and bounds. The 80s digital design trend was all about the future and science fiction. Grids were huge, especially when paired with fonts that evoked a sense of technology and computers. Millennia from Fonthead Design Inc. is a great example of a futuristic font and would work beautifully with Hello Mart’s Minima IV to create a digital design in true 80s style. 

Dystopian Undertones: The Early Rise of Cyberpunk Design

On the heels of digital design, cyberpunk emerged alongside Blade Runner and William Gibson’s Neuromancer. It featured similar technological overtones with a darker side. Cyberpunk was more about living in a dystopian society, so this design style encouraged a bleak thematic edge. Radial from Art for Machine is a vector collection of segmented, circular illustrations with a futuristic yet ominous vibe that’s perfect for cyberpunk designs.

Into the Realm of Fantasy: Cinematic Magic and Enchanted Typography

Rounding out the entire decade, the fantasy genre really took off in the 80s. Granted, we still haven’t forgiven The Neverending Story for what it did to Artax in the Swamp of Sadness, but the 80s gave us The Dark Crystal, The Last Unicorn, and Bowie’s most memorable dance in Labyrinth. The fantasy style of the 80s was one that explored the fairy tale genre through ornate illustration, cinematography, and classical typography reminiscent of “ancient” texts. Zoltana from Michael Parson is a gorgeous letter set that evokes a sense of magic through ornate curls, while Imprenta Royal Nonpareil from Intellecta Design revives antique text from 1799 for a realistic aged texture in all-caps.

Looking Back, Moving Forward with YouWorkForThem

The influence of the 1980s retro design trends cannot be overstated. From vibrant neon colors to the bold, experimental typography, the 80s was a decade of groundbreaking design techniques that remain in vogue. The visual language of that time, in all its eclectic glory, continues to inspire and shape contemporary design.

In its own flamboyant way, the 80s reshaped the design landscape, challenging norms and embracing the new. The creative energy and individualistic spirit of the era continue to inspire designers today. At YouWorkForThem, we celebrate this rich design heritage. With our vast selection of 80s fonts, graphics, and design resources, we help you bring a touch of the 80s to your creative projects, all while providing a seamless experience, cash back rewards, and easy licensing options. Our commitment to independent ownership and our 20+ year history stand as a testament to our passion for design. As we look back at the 80s, we also look forward to helping you create designs that stand the test of time.