Style encyclopedia
Every major visual movement from 1840 to today — and how to apply any of them without breaking usability.
Style Encyclopedia
Use when a brief asks for a specific era, movement, or aesthetic ("make it Art Deco," "Bauhaus vibes," "90s web nostalgia").
Art & Design Movements (c. 1840
Reference for translating historic visual languages into briefs. Facts verifiable against standard design-history references (Meggs; Heller & Chwast — see Sources). Each…
Digital UI Eras & Trends (1970s
The evolution of screen aesthetics — usable both as history and as a nostalgia/style menu. Verify current-trend claims live; this file is strongest on established history.
Applying Historical Styles to Modern UI
How to honor a movement without shipping a museum piece. Read after the relevant style entry.