Nostalgia can be defined as a sentimental longing for a period in the past. It is a craving and desire for a familiar memory. Nostalgia can be triggered by the most random of memories, from recalling a particular smell, seeing a specific object or hearing an old song. The sheer power of nostalgia makes it possible for designers to enrich design, but how?
We have compiled a collection of tips and ideas that can be adopted to strengthen creativity on a sentimental and emotional level.
Nostalgia evokes a strong emotional connection. As designers, we can exploit this connection by tapping into things of the past that resonated strongly. By positioning messages that elicit familiar feelings, we can create positive associations to particular things.
The key is finding the right design to evoke those positive associations - the right imagery, fonts, colours and photographs. Once you’ve got this right, you are able to stir up that warm, fuzzy feeling known as nostalgia.
Before you get started, here’s a few key points to remember:
Know your audience Different generations have different memories and associations. Be sure you’re targeting the right people!
Leverage social media Throwback thursday anyone? Social media is the perfect tool when it comes to anything nostalgia-related
Now you’ve learned our tips on how to leverage nostalgia, you can get started on developing deeper and more meaningful associations.
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