Y2K & Gen-X Corporate Aesthetic (and other retro aesthetics)

[Cobra!]

I've been really obsessing over 2 aesthetics from back in the day that I remember seeing back when I was a child.

The first is what's called Gen-X corporate, which is mostly how corporations and businesses presented themselves back in the late 90s and very early 2000s.

The other is the Y2K Aesthetic, which is a wee bit later, and was used for computer graphics, music and clothing.

Both of these aesthetics give me a sense of wonder and excitement, and to me, actually feels more modern and futuristic than the aesthetics most people use today.

Come to think of it, they're almost opposite of modern aesthetics. Modern aesthetic are typically very flat, and uses few colours, but Gen-X corporate uses colours galore, and Y2K feels like it really jumps out on you.

What do you guys think of these? Are there any retro aesthetics you guys love?

[Deckade (Tolo)]

Hey cobra yeah I love the character of Gen X 90s corporate sleaze. I saw a yt vid which showed an original ad for microsoft excel, reckon you'd like it but I also love looking back on 'revolutionary' tech

[Janus]

This strikes me as a long-hangover of 80's maximalism - it's easy to forget in hindsight that the stripped-down 90's grunge aesthetic was met with quite a bit of resistance before conquering the mainstream. I'm not super-keen on this specific style, but I do have a strong preference for well-curated maximalism as opposed to the sterile minimalist style exemplified by the Apple Store.

[ArtisTheFox]

These are both so awesome. I've loved Y2K for a long time, but the specific Gen X Corporate style is now a new favourite on my list of favourites

[Guest]

I love the Y2K aesthetics as it's much more brighter (figuratively and literally) than other predictions for the near future of the world. To me it's cyberpunk's optimistic and more utopian cousin. There was so much optimism and playfulness in it and the designs for them had more personality. I wish it could be brought back in some way because the current aesthetics being used for many sites today make them all look the same.

[soop]

I really love are.na for their aesthetic catalog! Of those two, I prefer Gen-X Corporate, it feels super nostalgic and reminds me a lot of Epcot and Innoventions within it that I went to a lot as a kid!




They recently tore this down to make a Starbucks in Epcot  Genuinely one of the saddest things to me...

And one of my favorite aesthetics Evan Collins cataloged on are.na is Global Village Coffeehouse... another super nostalgic style