Whether you're an avid or casual social media user, there's a high chance that you've come across those oversized blob-like characters on your journey through the. This inoffensive illustrative style, often referred to as 'Corporate Memphis', has quickly become the quintessential art style for any brand wishing to appear modern and playful, but in recent years it's fallen out of favour for its formulaic and uninspired design.
The flat 2D illustrations often feature humanoid characters with exaggerated ligaments and minuscule heads, drawn in a basic geometric style. It's an adaptable and transferable design trend that's invaded tech marketing, migrating to the wider world of advertising, regarded as a sort of cheat code to a relatable and fun brand image.
The global grip that Corporate Memphis has on brands has led to an oversaturation of jolly, extreme-appendaged characters that, to me, have become a signifier of desperate soulless pandering. But where did this design plague come from, and how did it develop its soulless reputation? If you want to create more inspiring designs, check out our collection of theWhile the design's origins are uncertain, it's widely regarded that Corporate Memphis originated on Facebook .
The flat appearance of Corporate Memphis lends to its easy recreation, requiring less technical capability than skeuomorphic design. With little to no dynamic shading, bold geometric character design and adaptable skin tones that represent a diverse audience, it could be copied and pasted to fit whatever marketing scheme required – modern enough to feel fresh, but indistinct enough to be universal.
As we look into the future, it seems that the invasion of the large-limbed pastel people may finally be ceasing, as brands such asreject the outdated style. Corporate Memphis has become so infamous that it's now used as a form of parody, rather than a trendy brand identity. With trend cycles rapidly renewing it's clear that there's no comfortable place to settle in design, but for now, I'm glad to see Corporate Memphis laid to rest.