I don't think this has much to do with technology or Photoshop - these memes are always he case where a few leading agencies in NYC do something for some big clients and then everyone copies. It's 'creative herd mentality as driven by generally non-marketing CEO's making the final decision on creative'.
Why does every advert look the same? Corporate Memphis
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Re: Why does every advert look the same? Corporate Memphis
#12“It really boils my piss to be honest,” says Jack Hurley, a Leeds-based illustrator who says his main output is “daft seaside posters.”
If you are a Brit (or even otherwise) I really recommend taking a look at Hurley's work [0]. The taglines for each resort are just superb - e.g. "Cleethorpes - The Final Resort"
As an aside, I'm reminded of the old joke that Cleethorpes doesn't have a twin town, but is in a suicide pact with Grimsby.
[0] https://www.pinterest.co.uk/christinefbosha/jack-hurley-post...
Re: Why does every advert look the same? Corporate Memphis
#13The name refers to how it resembles the work of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis_Group
Thanks for answering the most obvious question anyone would have about this phenomenon that was inexplicably totally missing from the article itself.
> The name is a play on the 80’s Italian design and architecture group Memphis, which positioned itself as a garish and child-like rejection of functionalist styles.
From the article.
Re: Why does every advert look the same? Corporate Memphis
#14Trends are trendy, film at 11.
If you don't want to discuss the article feel free to click the little 'x' and move on.
Re: Why does every advert look the same? Corporate Memphis
#15I think that the aim of this style is a type of corporate PR, to give off a safe, unoffensive feeling.
I then think that this feeling is intended to preempt the user's knowledge that the company is doing unethical things. Either environmentally, or with the user's private data, or otherwise.
A good example is Google, (see some corporate memphis here, https://blog.google/technology/health/when-it-comes-mental-h...), who needs to project this image in order for you to feel safe while sharing your most private details with the company.
Re: Why does every advert look the same? Corporate Memphis
#16I think its interesting that the flat look was pioneered by Microsoft going back to the days of the Zune2 and later lumia phones that had the first Metro interface. Then google and Apple and everyone else started following. People don't think of Microsoft (and especially Zune...) as a leader in design, but I think they have had a big impact on the industry, and deserves some recognition.
Re: Why does every advert look the same? Corporate Memphis
#17I think its interesting that the flat look was pioneered by Microsoft going back to the days of the Zune2 and later lumia phones that had the first Metro interface. Then google and Apple and everyone else started following. People don't think of Microsoft (and especially Zune...) as a leader in design, but I think they have had a big impact on the industry, and deserves some recognition.
It's certainly Metro-influenced, but one wishes the real deal Metro came back.
Re: Why does every advert look the same? Corporate Memphis
#18From a technical perspective I enjoy using graphics that are able to be rendered as a SVG. I believe that is why this style has taken off, it is able to be served and rendered with regard to performance. The article presents it as a change made by Apple, but it was really the frontend that pushed visuals like this. I support redesigns every three years and have stopped recommending the faceless images that is Memphis…
> I believe that is why this style has taken off, it is able to be served and rendered with regard to performance.
Bingo. This and the flexibility to compose your own scenery from those illustration systems vs. hunting down the right stock image or hiring a photographer.
Re: Why does every advert look the same? Corporate Memphis
#19It’s largely driven by corporations trying to be as broad and inoffensive as possible.
Not sure what skin color to use? Make them blue. Are your depictions of humans too thin, or too ableist? Make them misshapen blobs so nobody can tell. Not sure how to include non-binary representation? Just make them all genderless.
Re: Why does every advert look the same? Corporate Memphis
#20This is from January, there's other articles around mentioning this trend
Here's another angle: It's Killing Brands https://www.aleksandrhovhannisyan.com/blog/blue-people-illus...