Space Age Design: Out-Of-This-World Colors!

As a color specialist and design enthusiast, once in a while, I like to take my readers on a trip down memory lane and provide some design/color history lessons from the past. We must look to the past to spot patterns and trends for the future! Well, have I got a good one for you! 

In the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s, a very cool, “out-of-this-world” design scheme called Space Age design existed. Space Age design was a subset of the Atomic Age design when architecture and industrial design were inspired by the marvels of the Atomic Age (post-development of the atomic bomb)

Space Age design is characterized by an optimistic outlook on what technology could bring us and an appreciation of mankind’s first journeys amongst the stars. Space Age design is often described as the first time we put faith in the possibilities of space travel, and the design style was quite impactful; everything from consumer electronics to furniture and fashion was influenced. It’s quite honestly one of the coolest, fun, campy design styles of American history, and it’s instantly recognizable, even to those unaware of the movement. 

Space Age Design – What Defines The Style/Movement?

At its core, Space Age design is a midcentury-modern expression of excitement for what humanity could accomplish beyond the heavens. It’s minimalistic, full of “futuristic” materials like acrylics, plastics, reflective metals, modular, bold, and angular—it’s just fantastic! 

Please take a few minutes to watch this clip from Stanley Kubrik’s masterpiece, 2001: A Space Odyssey: commercial space flight to the moon. The scene depicts what was imagined as a future commercial space flight to the moon. It’s so much fun to see what they imagined when this was created!

Space Age design features the following characteristics:

Shapes and Forms Made with Modern Materials (of the time): sleek, aerodynamic shapes and forms, including curved lines, geometric shapes, and asymmetrical designs. Designers of the time often utilized cutting-edge innovative materials such as plastic, fiberglass, aluminum, and acrylics, which helped create a sense of lightness and modernity; this impacted Furniture in particular, which is why you’ll see space pod/egg-shaped lounge chairs or fireplaces.

Reflective Surfaces and Bold Colors: Reflective surfaces, particularly metallic finishes like chrome and stainless steel, were commonly used in Space Age design to mimic the look of spacecraft and aerospace technology. Bright, bold, and loud colors were used to evoke a sense of optimism and energy/excitement. Colors like bright orange, electric yellow, and electric blue were popular choices.

Innovate and Modular Components: Many Space Age designs were modular, allowing easy assembly, disassembly, and reconfiguration; this reflected the idea of adaptability and flexibility in the face of technological progress. For example, a phone may have been built into the same acrylic dome-bubble cabinet that housed a record player or television. Space Age design impacted consumer electronics quite heavily, as it was when technology became more affordable for average Americans. 

Looking to Give This Design a Try?

If you’re sold on the awesomeness of Space Age design and want to try it out in your home, great! Your first stop to begin collecting Space Age items will probably be an antique shop, a vintage store, or even Etsy. You’ll need a statement piece like furniture, vintage hi-fi gear, or an aluminum rocket for your end table! It’s not typically a design scheme that can be implemented in an afternoon unless you own reto-futuristic paraphernalia. Still, you can begin crafting a collection of lamps, toys, pop art, and furniture to complete the vibe over time. 

Once you have a few Space Age items in your home, a few rooms work perfectly to complement the retro-futuristic feel. If you have a dedicated stereo listening space with a record player, Space Age lamps, end tables, and artwork will help complete a retro-lounge vibe. A home bar/cocktail lounge is also a good place to work the Space Age aetheric into your home – you can enjoy an evening highball with cosmic splendor around you! 

So tell me, what do you think of the Space Age design? I love these distinctive moments in American design history, but it can be a tad too much for some. Would you ever outfit any room in your home with some Space Age design motifs? Please share your thoughts with me; I always love hearing them.