The Memphis movement was ultimately a “protest.” It was an art form of revolting against the neutral, understated and functional modernism that proceeded it. The movement even had a goal of being a passionate movement, one that was even meant to provoke emotion. The style of they displayed was driven by form over function. Memphis often produced simple geometric shapes; along with flat bright colors in contrasting palettes. They loved to add graphic patterns defined by black-and-white stripes and abstract squiggles. The movement took place from 1981-1988 in Milan, Italy. In the 1980s, Milan became one of the world’s fashion capitals – with the international success of Milanese
houses such as Armani, Versace, Dolce and Gabbana. Eventually even these companies adapted to add influences from this movement onto their runways.

Not all responses were positive for the Memphis group. Critics at the time were claiming the designs to be ugly, expensive, and impractical; they assumed it was going to be very brief. However, everything was an immediate hit right from the start! By the following year it was a “worldwide phenomenon!” Ultimately, it had infiltrated the spectrum from magazines, crafts, and even to mass-produced consumer goods. Memphis succeeded in its objective to broaden designer’s appeal. This being said, they made a form of
‘political’ statement which was intended to “rock the design world to its very foundations”, and aimed to crumble the barriers between high-and-low class design. Doing that shouted freedom, and inspired designers around the globe to join the movement and create their own pieces.

The Memphis Group was a collaborative design group founded by Italian designer Ettore Sottsass, with its roots in furniture design – it made its influential debut at the Milan furniture fair in 1981. But it was relatively short-lived as an actual collective, closing down after just six years. Memphis Group products were never intended to be timeless, or to have mainstream appeal. The group took inspiration from the movements of Art Deco and Pop Art. The work of the Memphis design movement has been described as vibrant, eccentric and ornamental, and yet little about Memphis was truly innovative.  The group were expert at communicating their ideas, and at manipulating Ettore Sottsass’ numerous contacts. Just one example of this would be, Sottsass used his influence to persuade Artemide, the Italian lighting manufacturer, to work with them. Whilst not to everyone’s taste, the boldness of the movement and its creative freedom aspects inspire many to come up with designs regardless of whether they are perceived as being against current trends.