Postmodernism

Postmodernism emerged in the 1970s as a reaction to the minimalism of modernist design. The Memphis Group, founded in Milan in the early 1980s by Ettore Sottsass, exemplifies the aesthetic. Postmodernism celebrates the richness and complexity of the human experience, and encourages individuality and self-expression. It pushes boundaries and fosters a sense of fun with the use of bright colours, bold patterns, and over-scale organic forms. Furniture designs became more playful, incorporating whimsical, organic shapes and childlike forms, with the use of materials such as plastic and neon alongside natural elements.