Week 5: History: Design Styles

In researching different design styles for the label assignment, I found a website that gives a brief visual history of some 2oth Century styles and breaks down their characteristics. The first one it mentions is Victorian, which is symmetrical, ornamental, has type is on a curve, has romanticized floral patterns, and is idyllic. Arts and Crafts styles is a revival of Medieval craftwork with detailed wroth-iron-like design work. Art Nouveau is Asian-inspired with flat illustrations and feminine curves. Modern design lacks ornamentation, loves structured, geometric design layouts and sans-serif font. Art Deco also uses geometry but utilizes lines of force and aerodynamic shapes with tall fonts. American Kitsch is casual, using script fonts and caricatures. Swiss International is very abstract, using mostly only type with basic geometric shapes. Contemporary is simple and uses visual metaphors.

http://gds.parkland.edu/gds/!lectures/history/9000_review/review.html