The very first graphical user interfaces hit computer screens back within the early 1970s and therefore the impact of their appearance was so huge that we’ve never really moved too distant from the first look that was established in these early versions. The impact that early computer systems had on the landscape of design can still be seen today and as time moves on these systems enter into the realm of nostalgia and that begins to influence modern graphic design once more, but this point evokes more of a retro vibe.If you're taking a glance at any classic OS (OS) from that era you'll recognize a really familiar feel regarding how the weather look and things work. tons of the core system behavior we see in modern operating systems was defined by these very first graphical user interfaces (GUI’s) — and while the visual polish of those elements has since evolved and core features are added over time, tons of the great things that early GUI’s got right are still heavily influencing how modern apps, websites and operating systems work and the way they appear.This familiarity that early interfaces still have, paired with our inbuilt love of nostalgia has led to several designers using these retroelements in their own designs — sometimes creating work that directly mimics the aesthetic of early computers and operating systems or a minimum of designing work that's meant to invoke a nostalgic vibe of the time or capture the enjoyment of using early computers, software or webpages.
Today we are getting to explore this trend towards retro computer interfaces in additional detail with a fast check out the history behind the design, then we'll see some samples of how the old computer aesthetic is employed today in real design projects then at the top I’ll share some beautiful design resources that you simply can use to make an identical search for yourself.
Early Computer Interfaces
For the sake of simplicity, we are getting to specialize in the more familiar Microsoft and Apple systems. If you are doing wish to understand a more complete historical timeline of graphical user interfaces you would possibly enjoy this handy timeline and guide by ToastieTech.
Neither Apple nor Microsoft invented the thought of a graphical interface, but they need certainly been the 2 biggest players when it involves developing what operating systems are and what they're capable of. The systems that both companies built are employed by the bulk of computer users around the world so inevitably they need an influence on design trends and popular culture around the world, and as design trends always wish to borrow inspiration from the past it's only natural that elements from early computer systems start to crop up in modern graphic designs.
Let’s take a glance at the primary attempts at a GUI for both Apple and Microsoft as I think these have influenced the planning trend we are exploring today the foremost.
Apple Macintosh System 1 (1984)
The simplicity of the visuals with the bold outlines, pixel graphics, and chunky text makes it very pleasant to seem at even today, and while the looks do lack some much-needed contrast there's still definitely tons to admire about what's packed into this early OS. This same style just about stayed with early Apple operating systems until they introduced their color interface in 1991 with the discharge of System 7.
Apple Macintosh System 7 (1991)
System 7.0 was first released for the Apple Macintosh in 1991 and it introduced color for the primary time on an Apple OS, this is often celebrated with the colorful Apple menu icon within the top left. This release was one among Apple’s longest-running operating systems for a short time, until OSX came over. once more the core visuals on display are very almost like what we saw in Version 1, with a touch sprinkle of color, but that very same recognizable structure and workflow are there.Windows 1.0 (1985)
Development of Windows 1.0 started in 1983 and it had been Microsoft’s first graphical interface built on top of MSDOS with the ultimate release coming to plug in November 1985. By all accounts, this wasn't a well-received first attempt from Microsoft, with criticism round the over-reliance on a mouse input and performance issues holding it back from wider popularity, but as a primary attempt it gave Microsoft the platform to create upon and that we all skills well that went within the end.
Interestingly, this version of the OS didn’t allow users to overlap different windows and this led to more side-by-side layouts or programs opening full screen rather than the floating windows that we saw above in Apple’s System 1.0. Navigation around the filing system was more list-based too, rather than having clickable icons.
There is still a recognizable feel to the structure of the general system, with the menus, buttons, and interface elements looking somewhat almost like what we see within the early Apple system too — but the one thing with Windows 1.0 that basically jumps out is that the heavy use of bold vibrant colors within the interface. From what I understand the screens available at the time would have dulled these colors quite a bit, but either way, I appreciate the plan to inject some fun and color into their interface at such an early stage.
A similar visual style stayed in situ for Windows 2.0.
Windows 3.0 (1990)
Windows 3.0 was released in 1990 and moved Microsoft firmly into the more icon-based point and click on system, rather than the list-based navigations utilized in version 1.0. By all accounts, this was Window’s first commercial success and it sold 10 million copies before 1992. Visually this version introduced a more ‘’3D” style to buttons etc within the plan to add some depth and contrast, and therefore the ability to customize the general theme color and set colorful backgrounds meant that each early version of Windows featured color quite strongly in comparison to Apple.
Later versions of both Windows and Apple operating systems slowly began to move far away from these early aesthetics that they established between the first ’80s to early ’90s, but it's this era of styles that I would like to specialize in as I think these are liable for influencing this trend of the ‘old computer aesthetic’ in some modern designs that I’ve seen.
Creative samples of the ‘Old Computer Aesthetic’
If we dissect the building blocks of this style we will find a couple of patterns that connect most of those pieces together, so if you were looking to create something during this style yourself where do you have to start? Let's break the characteristics of this aesthetic down into a couple of key categories:
Bold Frames & Grids
One common trait during this trend is that the willingness to embrace bold, minimalistic grids and frames like people who we see within the early Apple Mac System 1, and Windows 1.0 screenshots. Often in other styles frames tend to be subtle, soft, or maybe not seen in the least — but I’m an enormous fan of how this trend breaks that concept apart and makes a feature of the frames and grids themselves.
Geometric Shapes
Bold geometric shapes are often seen throughout many of those pieces. Sometimes 3D inspired shapes, other times bold abstract outlines. These shapes can show themselves as prominent hero graphics throughout a variety of the works we’ve checked out, but sometimes they will be utilized in more subtle ways, shooting up as background patterns or decorations.
Retro Style Pairings
I think it's fair to mention that there are a variety of other influences present during this aesthetic and it pairs nicely with other popular design styles which also help evoke the nostalgia of the age, like Brutalism, Futurism, Vaporwave (https://creativemarket.com/tags/vaporwave), and Memphis style. I feel any 70’s / 80's / 90’s inspired graphics convince be an excellent fit for the old computer aesthetic too.
Bold / Vibrant Pastel Colors
The colors we see could best be described as bold, vibrant pastel tones. it's almost as if you begin off with a fragile pastel color then just crank up the saturation as high because it will go. We see many blues, greens, pinks, and yellows getting used. These colors are obviously inspired intentionally trends of the time of those early computer systems, but more specifically I feel the very early Windows 1.0 interface has inspired tons of the colors we see during this aesthetic.
Pixel Fonts and Graphics
Although it's not necessary to incorporate pixels style graphics to tug off the old computer look successfully, those designs which attempt to stay more faithful the first 1970 GUI’s do tend to form use of Pixel Fonts or Pixel Icons to completely embrace the retro 16-bit vibe.
Faux 3D / Stacks
We’ve already talked about the bold frames, but another trait of this style may be a faux-3D style created by extending borders at an angle to offer the impression of 3D or maybe stacking elements at a 45degree angle to make stacks of frames and to offer the impression of depth without using shadows. this is often something that we will see in Apple System 1.0 where a rather thicker bolder outline is employed on rock bottom and ra night side border to offer the looks of a shadow at a time where layer opacity wasn’t possible.
Retro Computer Inspired Design Products on Creative Market
If you’ve enjoyed exploring this trend and need to require to bring this style into your own projects you’ll be pleased to understand that Creative Market is brimming with beautiful products that also act as great samples of the aesthetic of old retro computer interfaces. I’ve picked out a number of the foremost fitting examples that I found to showcase the design further, but there’s an in-depth collection of over 60 items that I even have put together that share an identical vibe, the link for this will be found at the very end of this post.
Collection of Retro Computer Aesthetic Products
If you enjoyed these product suggestions and are trying to find more during this same style, I even have put together a growing collection of over 60 products from here on Creative Market that fit this old computer aesthetic. there's a variety of products within the collection, everything from social media templates and fonts to Photoshop actions and vector shapes. I’ll make certain to stay adding to the present collection too to stay it up so far with new products during this style.
Over To You — Please let me know what other examples you've got of this style in action, or if you've got any product recommendations from here on Creative Market that fit this aesthetic.
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