UX and Web Design Brutalism
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Architect: Buchan Laird & Bawden, 1978. Geelong.
Known by locals as the ‘Upside-down’ building, this Brutalist icon is better known
as the State Government Offices. Three sides of the building defy gravity
whilst the fourth is a nondescript flat wall, albeit with lots of windows.
I saw the film THE BRUTALIST recently and it got me thinking about brutalism in design. the film's example is architecture but it appears in other ways and much more recently it has been applied to UX and web design.
Briefly, brutalism is an architectural style that emerged in the mid-20th century. It's characterized by its raw, minimalist, and monolithic appearance, often using exposed concrete (béton brut) as the primary material. The design approach emphasizes functionality, simplicity, and honesty in materials and construction.
In UX design, Brutalism can be seen as a trend that prioritizes simplicity, raw functionality, and a no-frills aesthetic, reminiscent of its architectural roots. This approach can create a striking, memorable user experience.
In web design, it produces bold, no-nonsense websites with unpolished aesthetics and emphasizing functionality. For example, you would use minimalist layouts with simple, grid-based designs and a focus on content rather than decoration. Large, heavy fonts that are bold and stand out and grab attention would be part of the design.
Brutalism in any design can be polarizing, but it offers a distinctive approach that challenges conventional design standards.
https://designlab.com/blog/examples-brutalism-in-web-design
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/brutalism-antidesign/
https://blog.logrocket.com/ux-design/web-brutalism/
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