Graphic designers: what was this style back in the early 00's?

[Himu]

I first got into graphic design around 2000, and among the first things in photoshop I taught myself to do was crap like this:



I made this like in 2002, or something around the time when Windows XP came out because I liked the aesthetic of the OS and it kind of reminded me of XP's aesthetic and I was a ditzy 16 year old.

I was obsessed with this style at the time. Almost every hipster web designer at the time was mocking this style and for the life of me, I can't remember what the fuck it was called despite using it for years.

Is this style still en vogue? I guess it kinda is, because one of the biggest things in illustration right now are those loops and circles and shit that adds nothing to the design except for looking cool.

[TripleA]

What's that supposed to be

[Himu]

I DON'T KNOW. That's the thing. It was just a bunch of random triangles and shapes and yet somehow, this abstract style was really popular.

[Rman]

.
wrong thread.

[Smooth Groove]

It looks like a cheque design.  

[Joe Molotov]

It's called "Oh crap, it's 8am and I forgot to do that project for Graphic Design class!"

[Himu]

Joe

[Himu]

I cannot find any other examples of the style despite it being prominent, to my memory - especially on deviantart back then.

[Himu]

http://v3.2a-archive.com/flashindex.htm

omg

nostalgia overload

[Third]

Wow, you forgot the word flash? 
You're definitely not getting my future daughter.

[Himu]

It was a style was used in more than just flash, dude. The stuff at the top of that flash site, for instance, was obviously done in photoshop.

So no, I didn't forget the word flash, because "flash" is not a style, it's a program.

[Vizzys]

all-flash websites are still pretty cool although unpractical content wise

[Himu]

I loved the look of those flash sites, but they never lend well to actual content.

I don't think flash sites are big anymore outside of the big companies, right?

[CrystalGemini]

Are you doing this for a class?  Can't you just ask an instructor?  Or look it up in a book?

I say local library is a good start but for $6 you can add to your reference material and just buy the book:
http://product.half.ebay.com/_W0QQprZ917936QQcpidZ1361178
Hardcover too.   

[Himu]

No it's not for class. And no one seems to know, which is why I made a thread. I don't see why I should look it up in a book, it's not like I want to research it.

[Himu]

[Vizzys]

i seriously made a few wallpapers like that during high school

random ass 3d renders + photoshop =SKILLZ

[Himu]

i seriously made a few wallpapers like that during high school

Same

[Diunx]

A popular use of this style was to replace regular hair with 3d hair in a pic with super saiyans, add that lines and little squares and random 3d bullshit to the background and baby you got a wallpaper going.

[Don Flamenco]

*picture*

I'm getting that shit printed out on vinyl and I'm gonna cover my next rig with it.  also, my mouse will have flashing leds every time I click it, and each keyboard key will have leds that flash when I type, and fuck, everything's just gonna have fuckin' leds everywhere man fuck

[duckman2000]

Bunch of crap style. Especially popular with black graphic designers, for obvious reasons.

[BlueTsunami]

Man, I'm getting a lot of 00's Graphic Design vibe from Megatron in Bay's Transormers.

[Cheebs]

I first got into graphic design around 2000, and among the first things in photoshop I taught myself to do was crap like this:
 
(Image removed from quote.)

I don't consider that art. 

[Himu]

I don't care, Cheebs. Go to a trash can in an art museum and barf in it. There's your art there.

[Himu]

Yeah, I did those back when I started using PS. I don't know if it has a name, but it's basically spending time creating layers with random Shapes/color strokes -> mess with blending options, rinse and repeat lol.

Remember GRUNGE?

I'd get a bunch of images of dollar bills from google and like, make them into brushes.

GRUNGE!!!

I like how grunge has evolved over the years, though. Back when I started doing graphic design this was popular:



Now this is considered grunge:



I still remember how to do this crystal shit too.





I almost want to revisit it and see if I can update it with my modern skills and style.

[Cheebs]

I don't care, Cheebs. Go to a trash can in an art museum and barf in it. There's your art there.

I was kidding you himumu.  It is art!

[Vizzys]

why use effort when I could use LAYER STYLES

WOO HEAVILY EMBOSSED GOLD TEXT WITH A 5pt stroke

[Himu]

You forgot about the render feature, viz. THE RENDER FEATURE.

[The Dark Shake 3000]

Graphic design isn't an art form

Himu annihilated. Again.

[Himu]

I never said music isn't an art form.

Shake, proving he is dyslexic. Again.

[Vizzys]

DIFFERENCE CLOUDS BITCH

[Himu]

AHAHAHAHA

Dude, difference clouds.

Keep doing it and you can make it look like lightning! And then click render...and instant MASTER PIECE.

[Himu]

Remember GRUNGE?

I'd get a bunch of images of dollar bills from google and like, make them into brushes.

GRUNGE!!!

I like how grunge has evolved over the years, though. Back when I started doing graphic design this was popular:

(Image removed from quote.)

Flashbacks of giant anime sigs. *shudder*

[Veidt]

Makes me remember anime sigs.

fuuuck

Edit:
beaten by Jinfash...

[TripleA]

Oh man, I remember having tons of those grunge brushes by alias. Too bad they never helped me be successful at photoshop.

Photoshop is probably the easiest program to learn & master, especially with the amount of tutorials available on Youtube.

[CrystalGemini]

I think Himuro is more referring to his interest in image manipulation as opposed to graphic design.

[Himu]

Now this is considered grunge:

(Image removed from quote.)

That is NOT grunge.
May I politely suggest you change which sites you visit for graphic design reference.
Splashes of paint =/= grunge.
Where are the creases / tears / stains / broken shit?
When you look at that image, do you hear Nirvana or do you hear Röyksopp?

Good point!

[Himu]

I think Himuro is more referring to his interest in image manipulation as opposed to graphic design.

You're right. Graphic Design is just a hobby for me. I apologize if I upset any full time graphic designers here, I just like making fun of my old ps habits.

[TripleA]

To tell you the truth, hobby > profession. You're much better keeping it that way.
Heard an interesting rule about creativity today.
If you want to be truly creative, go up into your loft, do shit and never let anyone see it.
The moment someone sees it and says something, that's the moment you stop being truly creative.

That's the dumbest shit I've ever heard.

[TripleA]

To tell you the truth, hobby > profession. You're much better keeping it that way.
Heard an interesting rule about creativity today.
If you want to be truly creative, go up into your loft, do shit and never let anyone see it.
The moment someone sees it and says something, that's the moment you stop being truly creative.

That's the dumbest shit I've ever heard.

Wow. It's pretty impressive that, in all your life, however long that may be, the dumbest thing you've ever heard is something that wasn't even spoken, unless you are deaf and using a browser which converts text into speech. In which case, I apologise, dickweed.

http://www.mediafire.com/?admdtjzn34h

[Himu]

To tell you the truth, hobby > profession. You're much better keeping it that way.
Heard an interesting rule about creativity today.
If you want to be truly creative, go up into your loft, do shit and never let anyone see it.
The moment someone sees it and says something, that's the moment you stop being truly creative.

I completely agree.

[recursivelyenumerable]

in another ten years this stuff will all be back in style

20-year nostalgia cycle

[recursivelyenumerable]

Watch and wait, o ye of little faith.

[duckman2000]

I think Himuro is more referring to his interest in image manipulation as opposed to graphic design.

You're right. Graphic Design is just a hobby for me. I apologize if I upset any full time graphic designers here, I just like making fun of my old ps habits.

Eh, full time graphic designers do that all the time. I wouldn't get anywhere if I didn't have a good chuckle at the embarrassing shit I produced back in the day.

As for being creative, my old project manager assumed that "creative project" was largely interchangeable with "extra annoying project".