Like previous decades, the 1980’s influenced many ideas within posters, advertisement and other forms of media. However, images iconic to this period are byproducts of pop culture. Movies, music, and popular books had a great deal of impact on the decade and is now become symbolic references and objects. Science fiction was elavated by the space race of past decades, and has spawned creative images that encourages thoughts without being restricted by the limitations of reality. In the late 1970’s, the star wars series was introduced and gave an interruption of a world much bigger that what currently exist.  Vibrant colors were common, which best illustrated themes on the decade. Contrast among page elaments made compositions attractive. Font size also played a role grabbing attentions. These are elements that can be found in pervious work from past decades, but themes of the 80’s reflected upon work done during that time.

Like the 80’s future decades incoparated elaments of pop-culture into illustrations, which made them relevant. There are various forms of designs that can be used to express a theme or share a message. However, several periods during the last century favored different methods of getting the message across.

The use of photos in certain compositions can have a profound effect. The combination of specific colors can also add an emotional impact. After the 1920s, the great drpression was remembered as a period of turmoil, and the images produced repersented this well. An image without out any text draws the viewers attentiion to the subject rather than having competing elements on the same page. Different colors can add layers of mood to any composition, during the 1930s black and white images became symbloic with a depressed mood or state.

Creative Commons (by Dorothea Lange)

While images alone had a great impact, hand drawn cartoons gathered a lot of interest from it’s abstract ways of tell a story. These were common during the early 20th century and consisted of political, economical, and other global themes. Within these drawing subjects were often represented by a human character or any object that can display emotion.

by Winsor McCay

Creative Commons

Photos and compositions during the 1920’s incorparated themes that became symbolic of that time period. A changing life style along with trends were inspiration to various posters and related illustrations. Colors of high contrast and saturation are common and gradually changed with time. figures and charaters appear vibrant due to their expression of movement which relates to popular music of the time, jazz. A growing middle class provided a platform where new products and services were sold, this influenced themes of change and a new age. Besides color, most charaters and objects seem to be drawn rather than the use of photos. Today hand drawn images seem to be intensionally done and not out of necessity or the lack of technology.

I believe that most posters of this era expresses an organic feel which seems to have gradually disappeared. Some drawing in these images represent the personality of the artist. Type is also an area were a lot of personailty can be drawn from, today it seems most compositions are restricted or aim for a professional san serif look. While i prefer san serif type, i think experimentation can be more attractive. Personality within a composition can be achieved with unique hand done work, but i also believe good use of photos can capture the same feeling.

Posters and other illustrations along with various forms of art has reflected trends and standards of the period in which they were made. The manner in which compositions were put together has generally remained the same during the past century, but certain elements has become unique to their era. Composition Evolution is a 4 part series that examines the way numerous images has been used to capture historic themes. Throughout this series I will give my opinion on certain components that has been commonly used in many illustrations during a specific time or era. Type, color and subject-matter are all elements that will be looked at and compared to relatable events of their time.