No Result
View All Result
Subscribe
The Designest
  • Home
  • Design
  • Freebies
  • Toolbox
  • Tech
  • Tutorials
  • Inspiration
  • Digital Art
  • Home
  • Design
  • Freebies
  • Toolbox
  • Tech
  • Tutorials
  • Inspiration
  • Digital Art
No Result
View All Result
The Designest
No Result
View All Result
Home Design

Web brutalism, a style for design rebels

Prepare yourself for brutalist design — probably, the most contradictory trend — and try not to get a crush on it.

Ksenia Pedchenko by Ksenia Pedchenko
July 30, 2019
in Design, Inspiration
5
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

I can exactly remember how I once discovered web brutalism — lots of thanks to Dropbox — and how I suffered after that.

However, as the time passed, I discovered more and more such websites and fell desperately for the brutalist design. It’s like with Kandinsky’s abstract art. You call it weird first, and then you find yourself in the gallery making tweets about how exclusive it is.

So now, as a true Brutalist maniac, I do feel like bringing you the essentials of this rebellious trend. If it’s your first experience, you’d better get some herbal tea. And if not — just prepare to get lots of visual satisfaction.

Who, when and why?

After having checked dozens of various articles both from some broadsheets and amateur bloggers I honestly haven’t detected any information about the first developers to introduce this web style. So we may treat it as a spontaneous wave, something like an echo from the 90’s.

Brutalist Architecture: Photo by Dmitri Popov on Unsplash
Photo by Pierre Châtel-Innocenti on Unsplash
Brutalist Architecture: Photo by Pierre Châtel-Innocenti on Unsplash
Photo by Pierre Châtel-Innocenti on Unsplash
Brutalist Architecture: Photo by Pierre Châtel-Innocenti on Unsplash
Photo by Pierre Châtel-Innocenti on Unsplash
Brutalist Architecture: Photo by Samuel Zeller on Unsplash
Photo by Samuel Zeller on Unsplash
Previous
Next

But initially, there was Brutalism — an architecture trend of 40’s — 50’s. It was treated as a social and artistic reaction against artificiality to be the embodiment of honesty and daring. Simple, right lines, concrete and bricks, no odd decor or accents, focus on practical aspect rather than on attractiveness. Such buildings were called ‘raw,’ and it’s pretty clear now why.

Then came the 90’s bare-bones websites, with blue hyperlinks and monochromatic monospace text — like Craigslist and the Drudge Report.

 However, it was not the choice of style, but imposed by constraint limitations of HTML, and I believe these were not the onlу brutal sites of that age.

Web Brutalist: Apple Computer, Inc. website, 1997
Web Brutalist: Apple Computer, Inc. website, 1997
Brutalism: Amazon.com, Inc website, 1998
Amazon.com, Inc website, 1998
Brutalism: IGN.com website, 1998
IGN.com website, 1998
Previous
Next

Finally, after almost 25-year silence brutalism has lived its glorious resurrection and penetrated your screens while you had been away. Nice trends are always back, aren’t they?

Brutalism vs Antidesign

Opposed to commonplace yet beautifully coded mainstream websites, these are something like raw concrete. But in terms of UI, of course. The designers have made a step away from polished pages towards artistic negligence most community may treat as ‘ultimately ugly.’

Brutal design may ignore everything web design has acquired over the years of its evolution: symmetry, spacing, canonic color palette, navigation, strict hierarchy you expect to see. And it brings instead crowded design with monospaced typography (or just a single font throughout) and frequently overlapped elements.

However, keep in mind that it actually doesn’t mean a catastrophe on the screen. Not yet. Such element as a grid is often conserved, so there must be a structure — even if it’s not that evident.

You may say ‘Hey, but I’ve seen…’. Oh, I know what you’re gonna ask about, so let me tell a pretty unexpected thing: ‘That isn’t web brutalism.’ Nope.

It’s quite simple to mix brutal design and antidesign, actually, so let’s dot all the I’s now and forever.

Brutal design is a logical opposition to classic web design and is rather for the essence of the site than for the nutshell you put it into. It may look ugly, but it doesn’t affect the contents. OR it may seem ultimately minimalistic and even charming — the landing page of Apple’s iMac Prois to illustrate it:

 

Web Brutalism: iPac Pro 2018 landing page
iPac Pro 2018 landing page

Antidesign is a rebellious opposition to simple & clean design, where the creatives impose lurid color solutions and patterns, distracting animations and the weirdest font combinations ever.

 So, if you started reading the article with ‘Oh,that’s bullshit’ on your mind, ask yourself whether you were really thinking of brutalist design, okay?

Relaxing Time

I must have poured too much text on you, but it’s hard to stop once you’re about something you adore. Let’s give the text a rest and watch some real websites which are actually the best examples of brutal design (let me leave out antidesign this time. Guess, it’s not its cocky moment yet).

I’ve already dropped a line about Craigslist and the Drudge Report, but they are only a part of this glorious selection.

The team that was Number 1 to adopt the style was Bloomberg, as before web brutalism existed only in some art projects streetwear brands. Unfortunately, these guys have had their site redesigned while I was working on this article, so today it’s already quite calm and modest. But not so long ago it definitely stood out with its blue links and ultimately simple grid with no pretentions. Just the essence.

Bloomberg Business website, 2017

I’m sure you know Supreme. Or at least have come across some of their items, which instantly grab your attention with eye-popping colors and prints. However, it’s not about the website at all. It’s super minimalistic with super compact pages — you never need to scroll at all. Black-red-white color solution and only 1 typeface used. That’s all. But — it may sound kinda strange — I find their website more attractive than most of the cookie-cutter templates, ’cause there’s nothing of ‘too much,’ and every element is light and simple.

Brutalism: supremenewyork.com homepage
Supremenewyork.com homepage

Another titanic project that serves an excellent example is The Outline. The one will hardly ever call the site minimalist, as it is really abundant on color accents, animations, bold illustrations, yet without a single trait of antidesign. The structure is on the supreme level; typography is reserved and engaging at the same time. And — what’s the most important — you don’t get irritated by odd decor elements. Juicy but not weird, I’d conclude here.

Brutalist design: the Outline website
The Outline website
Brutalist design: the Outline website
The Outline website
Brutalist design: the Outline website
The Outline website
Brutalist design: the Outline website
The Outline website
Previous
Next

And, finally just for fun and practice: check the brutal selection from the Awwwards and do your best to find some true antidesign hidden there (frankly, not hidden at all). Try to come to an end!

Brutalist design: Just check out this insane cursor!
Just check out this insane cursor!

Well, if you write about a design style, you’re meant to finish your story with some burning appeal. Like ‘let all your designs be brutal’ or something even worse. But I won’t. The true message is that you never should be conservative as a designer or hostile to the trends you don’t understand. Minimalism is not forever, and the more styles and ideas you accept and master today, the more powerful you will be tomorrow. You don’t need to love web brutalism or antidesign, but I find it essential for any creative to check Brutalist Websites platform and pack themselves with some handy theory and some eye-popping images — further steps will be intuitive.

Tags: InspirationSupremeTrendsWeb design
Previous Post

Rubber hose animation in vintage cartoons by Tony Babel

Next Post

Alternative movie posters: new wave of visual

Ksenia Pedchenko

Ksenia Pedchenko

The Designest editor and passionate design blogger with over 6 years of writing experience. Ksenia has an eye for the trends and never misses an opportunity to share some helpful or inspiring content. She's in love with a good text, perfect visuals, and inspiring stories that energize the industry.

Related Posts

10 Font Trends 2023: The Year of User-Oriented Typography

by The Designest Staff
January 19, 2023
0

If you need a trouble-free method to understand what the design industry is up to, look at the typography trends....

12 Graphic Design Trends For 2023: The Visual Euphoria

by The Designest Staff
December 20, 2022
0

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, and whatever part of this statement applies to...

100+ Best Business Card Mockup Templates For 2023

by Alina Yakovleva
December 16, 2022
7

Rummage through a selection of the best business card mockup sets to present your work!

Creative Power of Shutterstock: Introducing CreativeFlow+

by Alina Yakovleva
December 8, 2022
0

Having all the needed tools on one platform is the dream of many creative minds. And Shutterstock made it come...

Best Drawing Software in 2023 For Your Creativity

by Evgenia Papicheva
December 8, 2022
9

We’ve collected the best free art programs and paid software for you to always have a wide choice of creative...

Pantone Color Of The Year 2023: Viva Magenta

by The Designest Staff
December 2, 2022
0

The new color celebrates self-expression without restraint and comes as a tribute to power of humanity.

Next Post

Alternative movie posters: new wave of visual

Comments 5

  1. Carla says:
    5 years ago

    Hi, enjoyed the article, found great design ideas for my next project.

    Reply
    • Ksenia Pedchenko says:
      5 years ago

      Oh, that’s great, Carla. What kind of project will it be?

      Reply
  2. Roodesign says:
    5 years ago

    Great read, I’ve been looking for something that breaks down the distinctions between the two styles.

    Reply
    • Ksenia Pedchenko says:
      5 years ago

      Wow, thanks. Actually, I’ve found it vital to draw the difference, as there are so many questions already asked about brutalist & antidesign.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Popular Posts

  • 70+ Best Photoshop Text Effects & Styles PSD Templates

  • How To Sell Digital Art: 20 Best Places To Sell Your Digital Design Online

  • 40+ Best Modern Fonts For Any Purpose

  • 20 Digital Artists You Should Know: Famous, Talented, Inspiring

  • Top 9 Logo Design Trends in 2023: The Triumph of Typography 

Envato Elements
with Envato Elements membership

Categories

  • Design (80)
  • Digital Art (27)
  • Freebies (78)
  • Inspiration (43)
  • Other (5)
  • Tech (19)
  • Toolbox (142)
  • Tutorials (56)
Youtube Facebook Instagram Dribbble Pinterest Twitter RSS

Subscribe

The Designest

Weekly Email Updates

We got tons of fascinating articles, videos and freebies for you every week!

SUBSCRIBE

Design Blog

  • Design
  • Digital Art
  • Freebies
  • Inspiration
  • Other
  • Tech
  • Toolbox
  • Tutorials

About Us

Welcome to The Designest — a professional design blog aimed to deliver fresh news & trends of the industry as well as the most essential courses & tutorials you must have been searching for.

Company

  • Advertise with Us
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Affiliate Disclosure

© 2022 The Designest — Professional design blog aimed to deliver fresh news & trends of the industry

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Design
  • Freebies
  • Toolbox
  • Tech
  • Tutorials
  • Inspiration
  • Digital Art

© 2022 The Designest — Professional design blog aimed to deliver fresh news & trends of the industry

Subscribe to Regular Updates
We got tons of fascinating articles, videos and
freebies for you every week.
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.