Counterculture and Design
Counterculture is defined as a subculture which consists of different values and standards from those of mainstream society and is usually in opposition to current trends. Generally, countercultures do not exist for a long period of time, as the phase of their trends will come to an end or in some cases become normal trends with other people mimicking their ideas. Hippies are a prime example of a counterculture in the 1960s, having manifested as a response to a new age of sexual, spiritual, and political revolution that prompted people to break the mould.
In terms of design, the 1960s counterculture was an era of 3D magazines, underground newspapers and psychedelic poster culture. Victor Moscoso was a prominent designer who experimented with the concept of vibrating colours to produce a ‘psychedelic’ effect during the 1960s counterculture.The vibration is achieved by taking colours from the opposite end of the colour wheel, each one having equal value (dark to light) and intensity (brightness).
Many believe that society’s ‘hipsters’ of today qualify as a counterculture, however they lack in strong emotional expressions and are mainly based around fashion or music trends. The idea of a hipster has evolved over the years and has become quite mainstream with the majority of youths mimicking each other’s style. Thus, with the lack of any strong opinions or beliefs, hipsters are therefore not classified as a counterculture.
