Futuristic Designs

1. Embrace the power of technology.

Martin Naumann explores the intersection of technology and art in his playfully titled book, Artificial Brain Farts. As part of his bachelor thesis about artificial intelligence and design, the digital artist used algorithmic machine learning to produce unique quotes and images. The results are hypnotizing.

“It's important to visually combine something new and original with something known and relatable.”

2. Explore your options before getting started.

Reborn is a personal project that is a result of Juan Lopez’s meticulous creative process. The motion designer began its production by poring over visual references including medical equipment and science fiction films to imagine what life could become in the not-so-distant future that goes far beyond the usual flying cars. Instead, Reborn deals with the potential for human harvesting that feels all too realistic.

“I consider an essential step in the process is to create as many sketches as possible of all the different ideas and directions the project may go. This helps me avoid falling for the first idea that crosses my mind. I keep those sketches during the process, and I reference them the whole time.”

3. Remember the future is boundless.

The future is unknown, so to predict it we must tap into our imaginations. For their project Phuizen, Anthony Gargasz and Rafael Ramirez let their minds travel to 2841 A.D., when data replaces human blood as a life-source, clothing is uniform, and impure thoughts are monitored with biometric devices. 

“We see ourselves beginning to religiously live through screens, so we wanted to conceptually explore what may become of us if we continue to do so.”

4. Avoid overworking the design. 

When it comes to science-fiction-influenced design, Pascal Blanche is an expert at creating a visual impact. Remaining aware of the possibility of overloading a design will naturally help prevent it. And if you realize that your work needs some editing, advanced design technology makes it easy to undo any snafus. One of Blanche’s tricks to avoid over designing is in his references: He tends to be inspired by Science-Fiction of the 1970s and 1980s, which isn’t afraid of negative space.

“The primordial idea and the composition is super important. I'd say that the best advice is that less is more! Don't oversell or overdo it.”

5. Don’t forget to explore lettering for the future. 

What will type look like in the future? Imagine how the people of tomorrow will communicate and how they will interact with products and signage. When Russian designer Andrey BTR imagines written language in the future, he thinks of severity, and so he incorporated strong lines without rounded corners for his futuristic typeface, ‘BEDA.’

“I was inspired by the aesthetics of cyberspace in the post-apocalypse. A photo from Syria may resemble the devastation represented in the Terminator and Tesla’s cyber truck is like a car from Blade Runner 1982.”