Neubrutalism is taking over the web? • Hacker News Board

Re: Neubrutalism is taking over the web?

#21

Post by dcz_self » Thu, Apr 21, 2022, 8:54 AM UTC

regentbowerbird wrote: post #12

> Brutalism is a 1950’s architectural trend that was abandoning all decorations, and creating brutally simple buildings made from concrete. They often weren’t even painted to emphasize their brutal nature. So big, brutal blocks of concrete. > It was the architects showing they were bored with the status-quo and trying something different. That feels very similar to the current search for the UI trend to take over des…

Agreed. The "brutalism" in web design takes only the superficial look but forgets about the philosophy of nakedness and honesty.

How would that translate to the Web? IMO by blurring the distinction between the rendered page and the page source. Nothing to hide!

I went ahead and did just that on my own blog: https://dcz_self.gitlab.io/posts/brutalism/

Re: Neubrutalism is taking over the web?

#22

Post by krageon » Thu, Apr 21, 2022, 8:55 AM UTC

mark_and_sweep wrote: post #18

> People simply get bored with how their apps and websites look after six to seven years. They need a change. Is there any research that supports this claim? If I use an app for 6 years, why would I suddenly need a change? I'm still ocassionally using a 10 y/o version of Photoshop. In fact, I'm very happy that it does not change. I wouldn't want to spend time on re-learning the UI. The same is true for many apps that…

> why would I suddenly need a change?

Because your designers need a reason to still exist, and redesigning an entire application is what that reason becomes.

Re: Neubrutalism is taking over the web?

#23

Post by spiderfarmer » Thu, Apr 21, 2022, 8:57 AM UTC

mark_and_sweep wrote: post #18

> People simply get bored with how their apps and websites look after six to seven years. They need a change. Is there any research that supports this claim? If I use an app for 6 years, why would I suddenly need a change? I'm still ocassionally using a 10 y/o version of Photoshop. In fact, I'm very happy that it does not change. I wouldn't want to spend time on re-learning the UI. The same is true for many apps that…

Designers don't want their product to look dated. Once there's enough evidence that a new trend is taking over, they feel an urge to redesign. Like programmers feel a project need a an overhaul, even though the end user thinks everything is okay.

Re: Neubrutalism is taking over the web?

#24

Post by darkwater » Thu, Apr 21, 2022, 8:58 AM UTC

krageon wrote: post #22

mark_and_sweep wrote: post #18

> People simply get bored with how their apps and websites look after six to seven years. They need a change. Is there any research that supports this claim? If I use an app for 6 years, why would I suddenly need a change? I'm still ocassionally using a 10 y/o version of Photoshop. In fact, I'm very happy that it does not change. I wouldn't want to spend time on re-learning the UI. The same is true for many apps that…

> why would I suddenly need a change? Because your designers need a reason to still exist, and redesigning an entire application is what that reason becomes.

Just like fashion... I wonder why we don't all wear the same style as 100 years ago, no? /s

Re: Neubrutalism is taking over the web?

#25

Post by spiderfarmer » Thu, Apr 21, 2022, 8:58 AM UTC

krageon wrote: post #22

mark_and_sweep wrote: post #18

> People simply get bored with how their apps and websites look after six to seven years. They need a change. Is there any research that supports this claim? If I use an app for 6 years, why would I suddenly need a change? I'm still ocassionally using a 10 y/o version of Photoshop. In fact, I'm very happy that it does not change. I wouldn't want to spend time on re-learning the UI. The same is true for many apps that…

> why would I suddenly need a change? Because your designers need a reason to still exist, and redesigning an entire application is what that reason becomes.

It's more that it's just like programmers who feel technical debt forces them to overhaul entire projects.

Re: Neubrutalism is taking over the web?

#26

Post by kome » Thu, Apr 21, 2022, 9:00 AM UTC

TrackerFF wrote: post #20

I don't know much about design, but all the colorful examples that were shown look more like 80s Memphis Group to me.

I agree he is describing a style that is close to "corporate Memphis"; but not to the true Memphis - that was (and still is) quite nonconformist.

"Corporate Memphis" is a style that take away anything courageous from Memphis, and leave just a grey expanse of colors.

Re: Neubrutalism is taking over the web?

#27

Post by methyl » Thu, Apr 21, 2022, 9:02 AM UTC

metafunctor wrote: post #6

Luckily, I don't see this “taking over the web” at all. This looks like design created by people who aren't good at design.

Yes, Figma designers aren’t good at design. Thousands of people would disagree with you.

Re: Neubrutalism is taking over the web?

#28

Post by DoingIsLearning » Thu, Apr 21, 2022, 9:02 AM UTC

mark_and_sweep wrote: post #18

> People simply get bored with how their apps and websites look after six to seven years. They need a change. Is there any research that supports this claim? If I use an app for 6 years, why would I suddenly need a change? I'm still ocassionally using a 10 y/o version of Photoshop. In fact, I'm very happy that it does not change. I wouldn't want to spend time on re-learning the UI. The same is true for many apps that…

> People simply get bored with how their apps and websites look after six to seven years. They need a change.

I would argue that the quote generalizes to all people, just as you are generalizing your sentiment to all people.

I have a lot of 15 year old clothes in my wardrobe, I know many friends who feel the urge of buying a new outfit every few months. I am not passing judgement we are just not similar in our desire for novelty.

I value function others value form. Form valuing people will likely enjoy app redesigns, function valuing people will likely value knowing where everything is in an app rather than re-training on new designs.

Most importantly I would speculate that form valuing people are way more likely to spend money on apps and services, so these services will likely do better in catering to form over function.

Re: Neubrutalism is taking over the web?

#29

Post by kome » Thu, Apr 21, 2022, 9:06 AM UTC

Archelaos wrote: post #11

spupe wrote: post #5

The nomenclature is just wild... So concrete monoliths in architecture translate to high-contrast, colorful, fluffy graphic design? I actually like the examples he has shown, looks a bit retro and futuristic at the same time.

> The nomenclature is just wild... I totally agree. The described style has nothing to do with béton brut. Rather the opposite.

Indeed, wrong name. There is a "web brutalism", but it's not what he is describing.

Re: Neubrutalism is taking over the web?

#30

Post by boomlinde » Thu, Apr 21, 2022, 9:06 AM UTC

regentbowerbird wrote: post #12

> Brutalism is a 1950’s architectural trend that was abandoning all decorations, and creating brutally simple buildings made from concrete. They often weren’t even painted to emphasize their brutal nature. So big, brutal blocks of concrete. > It was the architects showing they were bored with the status-quo and trying something different. That feels very similar to the current search for the UI trend to take over des…

> "Brutalism" doesn't come from "brutal" but from "brut", meaning raw or unaltered.

...and when something has that quality, you say that it's brutal.