Post Modernism

In the 1980s, postmodernism was a daring, vibrant, and frequently satirical response to Modernism's crisp lines and inflexible logic. In contrast to Modernism's belief that "form follows function," Postmodernism rejected minimalism in favor of ornamentation, historical allusion, and playfulness. This period pushed the boundaries of design by combining contradiction, collage, and eccentricity with symmetry, order, and purity.

The Memphis Group, which Ettore Sottsass created in 1981, was a significant force during this time. This Milan-based design team revolutionized conventional notions of taste. Bright laminates, odd designs, and allusions to Art Deco, Pop Art, and 1950s kitsch made their furniture appear more like pop-art sculptures than useful pieces. The Memphis Movement restored furniture's fun factor.

In the 1980s, postmodern architecture also expanded quickly. Robert Venturi and other architects opposed the International Style's antiseptic simplicity by arguing that "less is a bore." He played with classical elements in daring, unorthodox ways, fusing irony with historical allusions.

Though several of them later shifted toward a more postmodern style, the New York Five—Michael Graves, Charles Gwathmey, Richard Meier, John Hejduk, and Peter Eisenman—took Modernism in profoundly cerebral directions. Michael Graves, for example, gained notoriety for his colorful, whimsical designs (see the iconic Disney headquarters building).

As a development of postmodernism, deconstructivism arose in the late 1980s and early 1990s, dismantling conventional structures and reorganizing them in surprising and fragmented ways. Leading proponents of this movement were Peter Eisenman and Frank Gehry. Gehry's designs, like the preliminary drawings of the future Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, feature structures that appear to be in motion, brimming with energy and inventiveness.

Favorite Designs from Post Modernism:


Carlton Bookcase by Ettore Sottsass (1981)


Piazza d'Italia by Charles Moore


The Team Disney Building by Michael Graves


Robert Venturi’s Vanna Venturi House


Current Application:

Sasha Bikoff Interiors – She channels Memphis Group energy with bold color and quirky shapes.


Jonathan Adler’s Furniture Collections – Full of color, glamour, and playful nods to the past.


Guggenheim Museum Bilbao by Frank Gehry – Though built in the 90s, its roots are in 80s Deconstructivism.



Contemporary playful ceramic pieces by Memphis-inspired designers

One Step Further: Michael Graves

Michael Graves is among the most fascinating postmodernists. He transitioned from strict Modernism to a lovable, whimsical interpretation of Postmodernism after being a member of the New York Five. According to Graves, architecture ought to be both happy and useful. His structures made novel and surprising use of color, pattern, and classical allusions. In addition to his work in architecture, he was well-known for designing home goods for Target and Alessi, which helped the general public understand the importance of good design. Graves, who became a pioneer in universal design after becoming paralyzed in 2003, designed hospital and healthcare spaces that were easy to use.





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