Designfeedr

In design everything that is old will at one point be the new hot thing. One of those emerging trends is retro inspired design and illustration.

I grew up with shows like the Transformers, Thundercats and He-man – cartoons the likes of which many complain aren’t made anymore today. I remember the gratifying frustration of playing games like Zelda, Metroid and Mega Man in a time when strategy guides didn’t exist.

As a result of growing up in the 80s I get all warm and fuzzy inside every time I see neon color schemes, over the top shiny metallic typography and Tron inspired grid backdrops. At first I thought I was the only one with this absurd fetish but lately the web has me believing otherwise. Designers, illustrators and everyone in between seem to be picking up the 80s as a new trend for the coming years. So I did what I do best on Designfeedr, I scoured the interwebs and my hard drive for the hottest retro pieces the web has to offer.

Alex Trochut & Marta Cerda Alimbau

Barcelona based Marta Cerda Alimbau teamed up with Australia’s Alex Trochet to create these deliciously retro typography illustrations. I hear the illustrations were rejected by the client…what a shame.

• Alex Trochet
• Marta Cerda Alimbau

Sakke Soini

As the unofficial ambassador of retro illustration Sakke Soini knows like no other how to blend trendy elements (yes monkeys are considered a trend in design) with yesterdays color schemes and lighting effects. Sakke is currently working on a portfolio site, in the meantime you’ll have to make due with his Behance profile.

• Behance

Genaro de Sia Coppola

“Neon up your *ss” is how Genaro de Sia Coppola’s describes his own work on his DeviantArt account. Genaro’s bright neon and blacklight filled illustration style screams 80’s in a high pitched voice – now who would want his retro illustration any other way?

• DeviantArt

Sebastian Bentler

Germany based designer Sebastian Bentler has got his retro down. Funky washed out colors? Check. Lighting effects from another era? In abundance. Yesterday’s typography with a modern edge? Represented.

• Homepage

Joao Oliveira

Portuguese graphic designer and illustrator Joao Oliveira is currently studying communication Design and working as a freelancer. Joao has a style that looks influenced by the classic designers but isn’t afraid to dabble into more commercial and stylish regions of design and illustration when it suits his whim.

• Homepage

Adrian Unger

Adrian Unger is a twenty year old designer and illustrator living in the Greater Vancouver Region. His website Staydecent.ca is a project all on its own: Adrian uses the site to constantly experiment and remix to further learn and evolve his skills.

• Homepage

Will Consiglio

Will Consiglio, working under the name Theponderousmind, has an art style that is unmistakingly 80’s. I only have a link to his DeviantArt for you since info on the man is hard to find.

• DeviantArt

Nicolas Alexander

Nicolas Alexander is a French Canadian Graphic Designer working for MuchMusic in Toronto. On the sidelines he does freelance work in motion graphics and type illustrations, some of which have a very 80s inspired look and feel.

• Behance

kidplastik

Kidplastik is a designer based in Salt Lake City in the United States – I wish I could tell you more but the kid is rather low key as far as personal information goes.

• Homepage

James White

If Sakke Soini is Finland’s ambassedor of Retro Design than James White must be Canada’s. Floating somewhere between a designer, illustrator and artist James White always imbues his work with an unmistakable 80s look and feel.

• Homepage

Hannibal Chew

If the images below are any representation I think we can safely state that Poland based Hannibal Chew loves neon quite a bit. This 25 year old illustrator does not reveal much about himself unfortunately, nonetheless I’ve linked to his Behance for your viewing pleasure.

• Behance

Ed Price

Closing this showcase is talent designer Ed Price, living and working in Bristol in the United Kingdom. Ed has a mixture of styles going on in his portfolio that confirm two things – the man’s got skill and has his retro down like a pro.

• Homepage