We work in an office filled with creative minds and we know that their skills and techniques have to stem from somewhere, or at least be inspired in some way. So we wanted to find out what our creative employees’ favorite design eras were. Take a look below to see what they said, and you can even learn a few interesting facts about the different design eras.

Adam (interactive designer)
“I like the pop art of the 1980s and the Art Nouveau era.”

For starters, you pronounce it “ahr noo-voh” and don’t forget the French accent! Art Nouveau uses elongated, curvy lines and stylizes flowers, leaves and buds. As far as pop art of the 1980s, think of layers and layers of expressive art, like these examples.

Alisa (graphic designer)
“I’m not sure I can choose an era, but I really love hand crafts and am typically drawn to folk art.”

Folk art is also called: “Self-taught Art,” “Outsider Art” or “Niave Art.”

Byron (web designer)
“The Art Nouveau era is my favorite and I’m a big fan of Alphonse Mucha.”

Alphonse Mucha, a Czech Art Nouveau artist, became famous after commissioning a poster for Parisian actress Sarah Bernard.

Martin (senior interactive designer)
“Impossible question—that’s kind of like asking what your favorite song of all time is. I guess I would have to say that a lot of my influences come from 50s pioneers like Paul Rand and Saul Bass, American comic books, album covers and movie posters. I also have a fondness for Art Nouveau, Post Cubist Modernism and the Bauhaus movement, without these, none of the aforementioned would exist.”

Paul Rand started his career in a part-time position creating stock art for use in newspapers and magazines.

Tricia (senior art director)
“Andy Warhol!”

Andy Warhol’s first assignment was for an article in Glamour magazine.

Now we would like to know, is there a design era that inspires you?