Corporate Memphis

Flat art developed out of the rise of vector graphic programs, and a nostalgia for mid-century modern illustration. The name "Corporate Memphis" originated from the title of an Are.na board that collected early examples, and is a reference to the Memphis Group, a now-defunct 1980s Italian design group known for bright colors, childish patterns, and geometric shapes. The style itself was inspired by a synthesis of elements spanning the 20th-century, including the Art Deco style of the 1920s, futurism in interior design from the Atomic Age, and color and patterns from the Pop Art movement. == Visual characteristics ==

Common motifs are flat human characters in action, with disproportionate features such as long and bendy limbs, minimal or no facial features, and bright colors without any blending. Facebook's Alegria uses non-representational skin colors such as blues and purples in order to feel universal, though some artists working in the style opt for more realistic skin colors and features to show diversity. Corporate Memphis is materially quick, cheap and easy to produce, and thus appealing to companies; programs such as Adobe Illustrator can be used to produce such designs rapidly. == Reception and use ==

Once Facebook adopted the style, the sudden ubiquity of vector graphics led to a critical backlash. lazy, Illustrator Julien Posture argues that criticism of the art style is rooted in larger anxieties about the creative industry under capitalism and neoliberalism. == See also ==