Colors
The signature ’90s looks consisted of tacky neon colors, rooted in the unnatural world. The hues of the era, in particular, were the bold colors that you might imagine on MTV or sugary soda cans—egregiously poppy and fluorescent. One of the era’s main cultural contributions: Nickelodeon’s slime.
Color combo #1
Color combo #2
Color combo #3
Shapes
The emergence of Photoshop in the early ’90s had a lasting effect on the era’s graphic design. The tool took a zine-based, cut-and-paste aesthetic into digital DIY, and became a signature look. Overlaid geometric shapes, including both simple shapes and more dynamic ones—think jagged lines and energized edges—created texture and movement in the decade’s most common designs.
Click on the shapes below
Typography
Digital typography grew up during the decade. Sure, it’s grown a whole lot more since then. Still, ’90s type reflected a happy and productive balance—between tools catching up designers' imaginations, and a further turbocharging of creative spirits ignited by burgeoning tech. In 1987, QuarkXPress arrived, followed by Photoshop in 1990 and Quicktime in 1991.
COOPER BLACK
Foxy Brown quickly jumped over the Tamagotchi in her oversized, acid-washed Tommy Hilfiger jeans.
Foxy Brown quickly jumped over the Tamagotchi in her oversized, acid-washed Tommy Hilfiger jeans.
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Foxy Brown quickly jumped over the Tamagotchi in her oversized, acid-washed Tommy Hilfiger jeans.
Foxy Brown quickly jumped over the Tamagotchi in her oversized, acid-washed Tommy Hilfiger jeans.
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Mortuary bb
andala
Foxy Brown quickly jumped over the Tamagotchi in her oversized, acid-washed Tommy Hilfiger jeans.
Foxy Brown quickly jumped over the Tamagotchi in her oversized, acid-washed Tommy Hilfiger jeans.
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Everything was bigger in the ’90s. Oversized and acid-washed. And although the decade had a number of distinct popular styles, like Nirvana’s grunge look and Britney Spears’ bubblegum pop aesthetic, there was one common thread uniting the fashion of the time. “The ’90s were all about experimenting with design and throwing the 'classic' rules out the window,” said Kelsie Rimmer of Envato.
Patterns
The bright, colorful, and experimental style of the mid-to-late ’80s carried into the following decade. Popular patterns were byproducts of the decade’s prevailing colors and shapes—
bright, unnatural hues, and geometric shapes evoking energetic movement. Loud patterns, including cheetah print, were signature looks of the era.
Try the patterns below
That's so
That's so
90s
90s
Nostalgia for the ’90s aesthetic has lasted longer than a TRL marathon. Our interactive mood board has all the inspiration you need to recreate that ’90s look.
Fashion
More on the 90s
90s
90s
Nostalgia for the ’90s aesthetic has lasted longer than a TRL marathon. Our interactive mood board has all the inspiration you need to recreate that ’90s look.
That's so
That's so
Color combo #1
Color combo #2
Color combo #3
Colors
The signature ’90s looks consisted of tacky neon colors, rooted in the unnatural world. The hues of the era, in particular, were the bold colors that you might imagine on MTV or sugary soda cans—egregiously poppy and fluorescent. One of the era’s main cultural contributions: Nickelodeon’s slime.
Typography
Digital typography grew up during the ’90s. Sure, it’s grown a whole lot more since then. Still, ’90s type reflected a happy and productive balance—between tools catching up designers' imaginations, and a further turbocharging of creative spirits ignited by burgeoning tech. In 1987, QuarkXPress arrived, followed by Photoshop in 1990 and Quicktime in 1991.
COOPER BLACK
Mortuary bb
andala
Foxy Brown quickly jumped over the Tamagotchi in her oversized, acid-washed Tommy Hilfiger jeans.
Foxy Brown quickly jumped over the Tamagotchi in her oversized, acid-washed Tommy Hilfiger jeans.
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Foxy Brown quickly jumped over the Tamagotchi in her oversized, acid-washed Tommy Hilfiger jeans.
Foxy Brown quickly jumped over the Tamagotchi in her oversized, acid-washed Tommy Hilfiger jeans.
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Foxy Brown quickly jumped over the Tamagotchi in her oversized, acid-washed Tommy Hilfiger jeans.
Foxy Brown quickly jumped over the Tamagotchi in her oversized, acid-washed Tommy Hilfiger jeans.
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Patterns
The bright, colorful, and experimental style of the mid-to-late ’80s carried into the following decade. Popular patterns were byproducts of the decade’s prevailing colors and shapes—bright, unnatural hues, and geometric shapes evoking energetic movement. Loud patterns, including cheetah print, were signature looks of the era.
Try the patterns below
Fashion
Everything was bigger in the ’90s. Oversized and acid-washed. And although the decade had a number of distinct popular styles, like Nirvana’s grunge look and Britney Spears’ bubblegum pop aesthetic, there was one common thread uniting the fashion of the time. “The ’90s were all about experimenting with design and throwing the 'classic' rules out the window,” said Kelsie Rimmer of Envato.
More on the 90s
Tap on the shapes below
Shapes
The emergence of Photoshop in the early ’90s had a lasting effect on the era’s graphic design. The tool took a zine-based, cut-and-paste aesthetic into digital DIY, and became a signature look. Overlaid geometric shapes, including both simple shapes and more dynamic ones—think jagged lines and energized edges—created texture and movement in the decade’s most common designs.
The ’90s have come roaring back—Hulu did an entire “’90s Week,” a Mighty Ducks revival just dropped, and flannel is cool again—and it doesn’t show any signs of leaving. But understanding that decade’s aesthetics isn’t so easy. Somewhere between Kurt Cobain’s battered Chuck Taylors and Biggie’s multicolored Coogi sweater lies the complicated truth: the look changed over the years, but the core mid-90s look was loud and proud, even when it shouldn’t have been.
Behold, your visual guide to the 1990s—an era informed by dial-up technology and the cut-and-paste approach of Photoshop, with influences as varied as cyberpunk, hip-hop, and the Memphis revival.
Breaking Down Seinfeld
The Nostalgic ‘90s Brand Crossword
The Art of the Smear: A Secret Animation Trick
How to Get That ‘90s Photography Look on Your iPhone
Every Friends Script, Quote and Scene Analyzed
The Famous Fonts of Your Favorite ‘90s TV Shows
The ’90s have come roaring back—Hulu did an entire “’90s Week,” a Mighty Ducks revival just dropped, and flannel is cool again—and it doesn’t show any signs of leaving. But understanding that decade’s aesthetics isn’t so easy. Somewhere between Kurt Cobain’s battered Chuck Taylors and Biggie’s multicolored Coogi sweater lies the complicated truth: the look changed over the years, but the core mid-90s look was loud and proud, even when it shouldn’t have been.
Behold, your visual guide to the 1990s—an era informed by dial-up technology and the cut-and-paste approach of Photoshop, with influences as varied as cyberpunk, hip-hop, and the Memphis revival.
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