We still live in a time of uncertainty, but anxieties take the form of new unknowns. Looking back at the origins of the Atomic Age design era, it’s interesting to note how much of society has changed, and how much has not. Others argue that the shapes harken to a simpler time, when nature was ruled by the forms of living organisms such as plants and amoebas. Some say that the sleek, organic shapes of its designs were inspired by the media portrayal of nuclear exposure, rendering human beings into mutant forms. ![]() ![]() Taking influence from themes of atomic science, common characteristics include abstract shapes and bright colors. Hence, motifs of the atomic particles flooded the designs of middle-class households, from wallpaper to furniture, and what was depicted was a unique vision of the future. Some saw beyond the potential of the atom as a nuclear weapon, and saw its role as a new source of energy. CHARACTERISTICSīut within the political unrest of the 50s was a glimmer of hope. Schools demonstrated duck-and-cover drills in case of atomic bomb attack, fallout shelters were being built, media portrayal of nuclear attacks influenced the public conciousness and out came a design style that reflected the zeitgeist. With nowhere to run, Cold War anxieties permeated into every aspect of life. While the countries flaunted their firepower, citizens had no choice but to embrace the races on the sidelines, with fears of rising tensions leading to an all-out nuclear war. The 1950s were home to major technological advancement: the arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War extended from nuclear weapons to the space race, with both parties eager to prove their superiority as innovators at the frontiers of technology. The style of these posters take heavy inspiration from the atomic age. Soaring on the wings of a private company – SpaceX – this is also the first time since 2011 that American astronauts have been launched into space from American ground.Īs we celebrate the significance of this scientific milestone, I’d like to throwback to a bygone era of design that stemmed from a time of changing technology and space exploration – the Atomic Age of graphic design.ĭid you know: Back in 2015, SpaceX unveiled three retrofuturistic posters for Mars travel. ![]() Just as then, Southern California is at the forefront of that development.As the Falcon 9 rocket launched on May 30th of this year, it ignited a new era of space travel. She points out that Silicon Beach is now located in Playa Vista, on the footprint of Hughes Aircraft, one of the Southland’s signature aerospace company. While the space program may not inspire the same levels of excitement it once did, Karafantis says the modern-day equivalent of exciting technological innovation may lie in things like tech and its forays into transportation, as well as AI, gaming and virtual reality. at that time such as struggles over civil rights and the Vietnam War,” Karafantis said. And this was a bit of a contentious topic due to things that were happening domestically in the U.S. “At the time leading up to the moon landing, citizens were increasingly excited about the amount of money that was being poured into the Apollo program. In this file photo taken on Jastronaut Buzz Aldrin, lunar module pilot, walks on the surface of the moon during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity.
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