Inspired by Failed Tech Platforms threadand Y2K Aesthetic topics let’s talk design trends past their prime or ones that should be killed.
More current the better (not so interested in 70’s brown and plaids). Overdone, overused, too trendy.
ID or ID related (form, CMF, etc.)…
The ID version of “put a bird on it”.
The ID version of “make it vegan”
The ID version of “put oversize Helvetica text on it”
Things like -
Random perf pattern thing
3D printed lattice look
Generative Design lattice look
Splatter paint everything
In footwear we have the designed in VR blobbly, alien looking 3D printed slides thing.
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Staying on the footwear side of things - The 90s “dad shoe” aesthetic that started with a so-bad-it’s-funny design from Under Armor for Steph Curry in 2015 or 2016 that has now come full circle and turned into fashionista nonsense.
I don’t really see “Dad” in the Curry but I do love me some classic grey NB “dad shoes”
The clog trend though needs to die.
Wow the last one so beautiful.
Squircles need to be done. (radius corner squares are OK, but the bloated sure thing is over).
(I don’t know what the image is, just a google result from “squircle”
We are done with random perfs, right?
I agree with you totally about the “3D-print for 3D-print’s sake” look, but coming at this from a more mechanical background, I’m still excited by the ability to vary properties by changing the density of the print for example, with the runners or the splint. But yeah, not Voronoi just because.
I’m with you on functionality, but half the “3D print” stuff like the Adidas are 3D print for the sake of 3D print. The shoe is worse performance than traditional foam with no actual benefits.
Reminds me of the translucent iMacs back in the day showing the injection ribs and bosss… the look of functionality without the actual functionality…
PS good luck cleaning dog shit out of it. LOL.
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How about - the ‘tennis ball’ part line metaphor. Two roughly C-shapes, rotated 90 degrees so they nest together. Might still be a useful tactic for part breaks, but as a singular gesture, its kind of tired.
Very generally speaking, this sort of gesture.
Oh man…Despite living in the Pacific Northwest in an area with TONS of mud/dogs/etc, I never even thought of the question “what happens when I step in a mud puddle?” Throw them in an ultrasonic cleaner? Heh.
The splint though, I like. Make it strong where it needs to be strong, make it light where it can be light. Stuff like that, that has a reason? Great.
I’m seeing a trend for the spaces I work on to have two details that I’m growing tired of:
- White Oak EVERYTHING
- Slat walls.
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Don’t get me started on bad interior design trends. We just did a full gut reno….I’ve seen it all!
I’ll take White Oak everything over Walnut everything, which is just depressing looking.
We did warm oak to match the original stairs 
Not sure whether or not I don’t like lead-in surfaces (but those generic shapes are everywhere oh yeah) but my personal eye-sore is automotive design styling made with simple trapezoids
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Can’t think of design trends outside of global trends. I am usually see people throw away “generic” cheap sneakers after 1-3 years of use. And obviously they don’t run in them. And for me it is linked with some established sneaker trends:
Heel material made out of mesh - given the variety of human feet and fits, the heel can break on the inside even after 1 month of use. There is no point of using cheap fabric on the heel inside the shoe rather then “price”. More thoughtful shoes, like Ecco or other orthopedic oriented shoes always use leather-like material on the inside. And most luxury shoe brands too, but not Nike, Adidas and dozens of cheap brands who copy that trends.
The usage of fabric and colors in sneaker design is not so ideal, the shoe which can’t be clean also thrown away and I am not sure about sneaker recycling facilities outside of most developed countries.
In this regard, in my experience, most unique looking sneakers ending up in second hand stores or sold as a gems but not easily thrown away.
