the return of analog aesthetics
reactionary shift in the age of ai, trend or here to stay? + more on my print club
No you’re not tripping, analog aesthetics have absolutely been making a comeback, and thank god. But is this just another trend?
Not like they’ve ever really left…but you’ve probably noticed an increasing number of brands creating paper cutout carousels, leaning into the hand-made.
More artists have been starting their own print magazines and print clubs as well…
That’s no coincidence, it’s strategic (well for the brands, anyway), and it’s undeniably a reactionary shift against lazy ai images and the growing problem of consumer decision fatigue.
Analog aesthetics are fun, tasteful, forever timeless. They’re rooted in true craftsmanship, which will always be in, even when the day comes that ai can wipe our a$$es for us. And I’m not just saying that because I’m biased.
trend or here to stay?
I’m betting that this is beyond a trend, but if I’m wrong, I guess you can blame me for your Kalshi loss. And before I get into why exactly I think analog is here to stay, let’s define what I mean by analog aesthetics in the first place.
So there’s two different things people are calling “analog design” today:
real analog, which is actual hand-lettering, letterpress, film, an actual physical process.
and digital analog, which is digital work that is styled to appear analog. Things like halftone overlays, grain filters, etc.
Digital is technically trending more than real analog, as it’s being created with the intent to be shared digitally. Can’t without it, brands and artists are more reliant on social media to stay afloat than ever.
Ultimately it doesn’t matter what kind of analog we’re talking about. On the consumer side, the positive reaction to this shift is evident, and there are good reasons for that.
1. “analog nostalgia”
Ania, a creator on IG, talked about “analog nostalgia”, and how the “overabundance of choices that come with digital technology can lead to decision fatigue.”
video on analog aesthetics by @aniadsgn
Another interesting thing she said was that visual texture (grain, grit, etc.) provide the brain with more to read, which apparently not only triggers endorphin release, but also lights up the memory context area of our brains.
Fascinating…and speaking for myself, “analog nostalgia” makes perfect sense.
Although I was born in the early 2000s and was just a kid when smartphones slowly began replacing physical media, the physical book, magazine, photo album will always hold a special place in my heart.
2. physical > digital goods
Kind of an obvious one, but a 2018 study by the Journal of Consumer Research (Oxford Academic) also found that people report feeling meaningfully less ownership over digital goods than physical ones.
Not being able to hold, physically own a thing changes how much it registers as yours.
And the beautiful thing about true analog design, even if it’s made with the intent to be shared digitally, is that it exists beyond your Finder downloads, Instagram, etc. It continues to exist even if all technology shuts down.
That’s one of the reasons I started scrapbooking — I find the idea of my memories being solely digital somewhat unsettling lol. Does that idea bother you too?
3. surprise, people still value craftmanship
Very different from analog design, but one of the reasons people love to thrift vintage luxury, for example, is because of the craftmanship behind it.
It’s why vintage Cavalli, with its ornate print designs (that we don’t see nearly as often anymore), is so loved again recently.
Aside from the brand name and cheaper prices, people continue to want real quality materials and art, something we see less and less of as bigger brands opt for polyester and minimalism in the name of efficiency and higher profit margins.
You could apply similar logic to people’s love for digital & film cameras. The physical process of holding the camera, adjusting the settings. There’s an art to it.
It all comes back to craftmanship. Vintage fashion, the digital / film camera, and analog design all share craftmanship in common.
ai disclaimer
Though I’m clearly very pro-physical media and make my own art, I’m actually not really anti-ai. I believe it can be a great tool if you use it right…for ideas, research, organization and revisions.
Not for creating “art” (if you can call it that lol) and writing entirely for us, however, but more on that later. This is a topic that deserves its own post, so expect to see that from me soon.
Now back to keeping physical / print media alive…
i started a print club
I’ve made a few paintings and have loved journaling / creative writing for quite some time, but I always treated these things purely as hobby and self-development.
Then I thought, a print club would not only be the perfect intersection of these two things, but it would also be a fun physical “product”. Why tf not?
Every month I’ll be featuring a matte print of one of my original paintings, a letter on a unique topic that I’ll tie back to my work, and a couple other decorative elements. All in a beautiful envelope delivered straight to your mailbox.
This month’s unique theme is Carl Jung’s unique take on art interpretation, featuring a print of my “horses don’t stop they keep [swimming]” painting (thanks thugger).
Now because I wish to retain some mystery with my first print club edition, that’s all I’ll say for now…just know it’s sick & I love what I’ve put together.
I’ll also be posting an extended version of my letter on here for those who subscribe to the print club ($10 a month recurring or $12 one-time purchase + free shipping).
Anyways, that’s all for today. If inner world cultivation, art, business, culture and fashion is of interest to you, please stick around, there’s much for us to discuss…