Global Village Coffeehouse - Aesthetic Highlight #1

Emmy Fitz

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Good evening. I got an idea. I'm going to start weekly threads based on specific aesthetics from long ago, and we can discuss the style, have memories, and share examples of this retro aesthetic. Let me know what you all think of this idea. :)

This week's Aesthetic Highlight:

Global Village Coffeehouse (c. late 1980s-late 1990s)

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Global Village Coffeehouse is a postmodern aesthetic that peaked in popularity from the late '80s and remained popular through the early '90s. Characterized by its warm colors, tribal look, Picasso influence, and corporate use. Its use exists within various mediums, including interior design, public art, flyers, and fine art.

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What memories do you have with seeing this aesthetic when you were younger?

Personally, Global Village Coffeehouse reminds me of visiting Disneyland in the early 2000s. Not so much the park but the resort around it, aspects of original California Adventure and especially Downtown Disney. There were also some specific board games, books, and other stuff that my grandmother had around the house at the time.
 
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Vaporweeb

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I absolutely adore this aesthetic. Something very cozy and earthy about it to me.

Anyway, I have some vague childhood memories of experiencing it myself, but the ones that stand out the most were when I was in elementary/middle school writing papers in Microsoft Word, using clipart whenever I needed/wanted to. From what I could remember, the vast majority that were included were vector graphics in this style, which were likely grandfathered in from the 90s, when it was more popular.
clip.jpg
 
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naa

This is a great idea for a thread!

I was wondering why this aesthetic felt super familiar to me, then I realized that sign post used as an example is from Seattle! The entire area that sign post is in feels like it has this aesthetic! there's a childrens' play area nearby that is reminiscent of this, a theater, a museum and a food court all with this similar vibe. Aside from the play area it's mostly on the inside of buildings, but there's a lot of weird, Global Village Coffeehouse-y decor outside too. I got lost in some upper part of that museum looking for a bathroom a year or two ago and it all looked like this. I've been hanging around that area since I was a teenager, but it's never really stopped looking like this, so this aesthetic has never felt super dated to me. There's other parts of the city that look like that, too, and a lot of companies in Seattle use that aesthetic.
 
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IlluminatiPirate

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This is an awesome idea for a thread! I love the "tribal style" is like esoteric midwest feel. I remember this style in my elementary book fairs. Those bookfairs was the best part of my day because I get to get out of class and I would always get a cool colorful book. Things seemed so much brighter back then. oh and is that the same style of the "sun" in super mario sunshine?
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E R I L A Z

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This is an awesome idea for a thread! I love the "tribal style" is like esoteric midwest feel. I remember this style in my elementary book fairs. Those bookfairs was the best part of my day because I get to get out of class and I would always get a cool colorful book. Things seemed so much brighter back then. oh and is that the same style of the "sun" in super mario sunshine?
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I remember it from my book fairs too! There's still a café where I live that uses the same style, it's a very comforting place
 
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Emmy Fitz

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I was wondering why this aesthetic felt super familiar to me, then I realized that sign post used as an example is from Seattle! The entire area that sign post is in feels like it has this aesthetic! there's a childrens' play area nearby that is reminiscent of this, a theater, a museum and a food court all with this similar vibe. Aside from the play area it's mostly on the inside of buildings, but there's a lot of weird, Global Village Coffeehouse-y decor outside too. I got lost in some upper part of that museum looking for a bathroom a year or two ago and it all looked like this. I've been hanging around that area since I was a teenager, but it's never really stopped looking like this, so this aesthetic has never felt super dated to me. There's other parts of the city that look like that, too, and a lot of companies in Seattle use that aesthetic.
Very nice! Mind sharing some more examples? I'd love to see it!

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kami

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This aesthetic brings me back immediately to my earliest school memories in the mid-late '90s. I remember this aesthetic used for illustrations in a LOT of children's books at the time. Just as OP mentioned as well, my family used to frequent Disneyland/world and stay for a few nights at the resorts on-site. This art style was used in carpeting, tourist informational videos, and menus at restaurants there specifically.

I seem to associate this style with the rise in popularity of the rainstick, as well. It feels like rainsticks, bongos, and pan flutes were the only appropriate instruments for corporate media being produced, especially when aimed at younger kids.
 
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Deleted member 2006

Good evening. I got an idea. I'm going to start weekly threads based on specific aesthetics from long ago, and we can discuss the style, have memories, and share examples of this retro aesthetic. Let me know what you all think of this idea. :)

This week's Aesthetic Highlight:

Global Village Coffeehouse (c. late 1980s-late 1990s)

original_3f280f5bba303b3d2732e513176f5529.jpg

Global Village Coffeehouse is a postmodern aesthetic that peaked in popularity from the late '80s and remained popular through the early '90s. Characterized by its warm colors, tribal look, Picasso influence, and corporate use. Its use exists within various mediums, including interior design, public art, flyers, and fine art.

original_7efc5ed19bdd9b8ed7e04bbcab0d4a3b.jpg




original_6b0bb7b39bf9d02289c75fed280add1c.jpg




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What memories do you have with seeing this aesthetic when you were younger?

Personally, Global Village Coffeehouse reminds me of visiting Disneyland in the early 2000s. Not so much the park but the resort around it, aspects of original California Adventure and especially Downtown Disney. There were also some specific board games, books, and other stuff that my grandmother had around the house at the time.
i have a feeling its highly i influenced by mexican/latino art.
 

naa

Very nice! Mind sharing some more examples? I'd love to see it!

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Those are some really great pictures! I really love how this aesthetic has a mix of earthy colors and jewel tones, the focus on organic shapes is really nice too. A lot of stuff related to it looks like it's made out of clay or paint.
I unfortunately can't find any pictures of the big, weird red lizard outside in this area but here's some shots of the buildings in that area, I think the monorail station especially has this vibe. This is the monorail station, the center house, the children's museum, and an art installation called Sonic Bloom.
monorail station.jpg

center house.jpg

children's museum 1.jpg

sonic bloom.jpg
 

spaceghost

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this takes me back to early childhood memories of my aunt taking me to organic markets and such, she would always get coffee and i remember sometimes how the different towns we would be in would have this aesthetic placed throughout somewhat frequently, but i remember this art style for sure and every time i see it it it always reminds me of my aunt or one of her friends, and the odd safe communities they lived in or visited. really cool thread this strikes an odd familiarity with me.
 
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Emmy Fitz

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Those are some really great pictures! I really love how this aesthetic has a mix of earthy colors and jewel tones, the focus on organic shapes is really nice too. A lot of stuff related to it looks like it's made out of clay or paint.
I unfortunately can't find any pictures of the big, weird red lizard outside in this area but here's some shots of the buildings in that area, I think the monorail station especially has this vibe. This is the monorail station, the center house, the children's museum, and an art installation called Sonic Bloom.
Very fun, very cozy, thanks for sharing!

More examples of this aesthetic:

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vaporwavemaster1

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これは楽しいシリーズで、あまり報道されていない美意識をたくさん取り上げてくれました。ここ日本ではあまり一般的ではありませんでしたが、擁護者がいました。あなたがこれまで挙げてきたすべての美学の中で、これが最も時代遅れではないと私は主張します。ヘック、今日でもこのスタイルでたくさんのロゴを見つけることができます。

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This style really gives me a feeling of deja vu, probably because it would of been a good style to use when illustrating children's books.
 
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There is one mall that looked amazing up to a decade ago when retail companies decided it was okay to remove all hints of art from public spaces because the Mall of San Juan uses modern architecture and they wanted to imitate it as cheaply as possible without regards for culture and infrastructure integrity.\
Rio Hondo, Bayamón

2nd atrium hallway

Embarcadero Food Court

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Food Court entrance

I would love to add more but for the life of me, I cannot find the concept art spread the original developer of this mall as well as Rexville Plaza and Plaza Escorial. It showed all three of them with the cute, quirky hand-drawn designs.
 
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Still a Youth

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Good evening. I got an idea. I'm going to start weekly threads based on specific aesthetics from long ago, and we can discuss the style, have memories, and share examples of this retro aesthetic. Let me know what you all think of this idea. :)

This week's Aesthetic Highlight:

Global Village Coffeehouse (c. late 1980s-late 1990s)

original_3f280f5bba303b3d2732e513176f5529.jpg

Global Village Coffeehouse is a postmodern aesthetic that peaked in popularity from the late '80s and remained popular through the early '90s. Characterized by its warm colors, tribal look, Picasso influence, and corporate use. Its use exists within various mediums, including interior design, public art, flyers, and fine art.

original_7efc5ed19bdd9b8ed7e04bbcab0d4a3b.jpg




original_6b0bb7b39bf9d02289c75fed280add1c.jpg




original_f5a9d490ddf029fd158f3aabe745eaf2.jpg




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original_5891d465f2a2780672cc13c765e0f770.jpg




original_5c6bff2009e8982015533960f968b24a.jpg




original_1677e1abf558a66ba7677bf33f9d5171.jpg




original_38f63dbf703c3007c6bc180c850b5695.jpg




original_17ad733de427b048390336e3dd490c11.jpg


What memories do you have with seeing this aesthetic when you were younger?

Personally, Global Village Coffeehouse reminds me of visiting Disneyland in the early 2000s. Not so much the park but the resort around it, aspects of original California Adventure and especially Downtown Disney. There were also some specific board games, books, and other stuff that my grandmother had around the house at the time.
this aesthetic is all over the place in Oregon. I went to a party in Eugene once and basically whole blocks were still like this.
 
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