(an example of Frutiger Metro)
Frutiger Metro is a broad design aesthetic that encompasses the "Frutiger" vector-based graphic designs of the 2000s and a variety of other, loosely related and stylistically differing Frutiger Family styles utilizing glossy textures, abstract flourishes, humanism, nature, gradient blocks, and/or elements similar to Vectorbloom. Mainly, it combines flat, minimalist graphics with a maximalist design philosophy, typically catering to a pre-teen/teenage demographic. Frutiger Metro shares many similarities with Frutiger Aero and other aesthetics of the time; unlike Frutiger Aero, which focuses significantly on detailed glossy 3D designs, Frutiger Metro is flat.
With bold, simple shapes and colours like black and vibrant blues, greens and pinks, Frutiger Metro, features shiny textures, a human touch, natural elements, skeuomorphism, bokeh effects, and other bright, lively colors.
History, from Aesthetics Wiki
Prevalent from the mid-2000s (approximately 2004) until the early 2010s (around 2013), Frutiger Metro gained significant popularity alongside Frutiger Aero. Its influence extended into corporate design and internet culture, resulting in numerous variations and sub-aesthetics that highlight its extensive appeal.
The pinnacle of Frutiger Metro occurred in the late 2000s, a period during which the Frutiger Family of design aesthetics achieved significant cultural prominence. This era saw Frutiger Metro gain widespread acclaim, paralleling the success of Frutiger Aero, as it became prevalent across various aspects of popular culture, daily life, internet phenomena, media, and corporate branding.
The most significant application of Frutiger Metro occurred in Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system, which was launched in 2012. This iteration of Frutiger Metro featured a streamlined and less intricate version of the original aesthetic, subsequently referred to as Flat Metro. This period marked the decline of the 'Frutiger' era and the onset of new design philosophies, such as Flat Design, characterized by its two-dimensional appearance. By 2017, Flat Design had become fully established, alongside the Corporate Memphis style, indicating the waning popularity of both Frutiger Metro and the Frutiger Family in mainstream design.
Since 2022, Frutiger Metro has experienced a resurgence through recent social media, reminiscent of the Y2K Futurism revival. It is also plausible that a 'Neo-Metro/Aero' movement is currently emerging or will emerge in the future. This phenomenon exemplifies the '20-year nostalgia cycle,' as Frutiger Metro and Frutiger Aero have begun to evoke widespread nostalgia approximately 18 years after their initial introduction.
