81 “Retrofuturism” Pics That Show Past Generations Expected The Future To Be Much More Exciting
We’ve taken a trip to the RetroFuturism subreddit and gathered some of our favorite images from the group that might simultaneously transport you to the past and future. Enjoy scrolling through these depictions of what people several decades ago imagined our lives to be like, and keep reading to find a conversation with Tiffany Wilson of The Retrofuturist!
#1 1958 Golden Sahara II W/ Goodyear Illuminated Neothane Glow Tires
Image credits: ashe101ashe
#2 Sublime 1969 Blaupunkt Pop 70 Sound System
Image credits: butterflypoo69
#3 Statue Of Yuri Gagarin In Moscow, Completed In 1980
Image credits: Drt-Spawn
To gain more insight into this topic, we reached out to Tiffany Wilson, who runs The Retrofuturist blog. Tiffany was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda, first explaining what exactly retrofuturism means.
"Retrofuturism is visions of the future from the past," she noted. "It most often comes from media like movies, television, and literature in the science fiction genre, but some of it comes from concept products from companies or futurists. Some modern artists like to use retrofuturism as a visual style for art and other media, like can be seen in the Fallout video games and the new TV show just released on Amazon Prime."
#4 Cosplay Metropolis
Image credits: Galimesh
#5 James Bond Receives A "Text" Via His Smartwatch In The Spy Who Loved Me
Image credits: malakeos
We were also curious what Tiffany finds fascinating about retrofuturism. "Retrofuturism provides a unique window into the time period it was created. We not only get to see what people were worried about during the time period, but also the kinds of technology and scientific advancements they were optimistic about," she explained. "It’s always fun to look at these predictions and see how close they were to our reality."
#6 Facetime In The 1930s
Image credits: benwilsxn
Tiffany also opened up about some of her favorite examples of retrofuturism. "I love the personified robots of 1960s era of science fiction, like Rosey the Robot from The Jetsons," she shared. "These types of friendly and lovable robots come up again and again in science fiction (almost every Star Wars movie or TV show has at least one), and I wish we had them in real life!"
"The most accurate prediction I’ve seen was an autonomous vacuum/mop similar to a Roomba from 1959," Tiffany added. "It was a patented invention that was featured in magazines and promotional videos, but the demoed model didn’t actually work at the time. The concept was very close to the device many of us have in our homes today, so they had the right idea!"
#7 I Feel Like This Fits Here
Image credits: MycoProTeam
While Tiffany acknowledges that we’ll never be able to predict the future 100% accurately, she believes it’s still fun to try. "I think in the next few decades we’ll see more and more smart technology infused into our daily lives while we try to reconcile the unexpected negative effects that has on society and people’s well-being, like how the ever connectedness of smart phones and social media has actually made people more lonely and isolated," she told Bored Panda.
#8 Information Desk Inside The Twa Terminal, Circa 1962
Image credits: RyanSmith
#9 Vintage Retro Computer Alien Design 1955, By Panalina
Image credits: ashe101ashe
As far as where retrofuturism comes from, DepositPhotos reports that the term was coined in the 1980s by journalists trying to accurately describe custom designer jewelry. But just because we didn’t have a name for this style before then does not mean it didn’t exist. Graphic novels from the 1930s to the 1960s, including Captain Future and Space Man, were inspired by Jules Verne’s books that utilized both futuristic and retro themes at the same time.
#10 Wallpaper Found Under 3 Layers Of Other Wallpaper
Image credits: IsThisNameValid
#11 Retro Futuristic Living Room I Painted
Image credits: pizza_chode
#12 Monument To The Conquerors Of Space, Moscow, Russia (1964)
Image credits: reddit.com
DepositPhotos notes that there are six key design features that are the trademarks of retrofuturism. First, there must be recognizable aesthetics from the past, which might be home designs or fashion. There should also be a nostalgic vibe. Next, retrofuturism needs to incorporate an emphasis on engineering, science and technology. There should also be a radical view of the future, whether that’s good or bad. And finally, retrofuturistic fonts, backgrounds and colors should be utilized.
#13 My Grandfather Was An Artist For General Motors From 1950's To 1980's, Here Are Some Of His Concepts For Cars Of The Future
Image credits: That_Martian_Man
#14 'ship's Cat' By Keith Spangle
Image credits: jaykirsch
#15 Habitable Space Station
Image credits: tapoutmb
EnvatoElements also published a piece discussing retrofuturism, and they noted that the style appeals to so many of us because it perfectly blends the warm feeling of nostalgia that we love with our fascination about the future. Films, books and TV shows have been predicting the future for decades, but we love looking back on the “good old days” as well. So why not do both at the same time? Imagine if you were a high schoolers in the 1980s could post on TikTok! I for one would love to see what they would share.
#16 Receptionist Waits At Her Desk. General Motors Technical Center, 1965
Image credits: getyourrealfakedoors
#17 The Communist Party Headquarters In Paris (Architect: Oscar Niemeyer)
Image credits: earthmoonsun
#18 This "Convenient" Kitchen From '74
Image credits: DogWhistlersMother
If you’re looking for ways to utilize retrofuturism into your own designs, EnvatoElements recommends starting with retrowave landscapes, images of cyber cities, neon vaporwave loops and lots of grids. Fonts are extremely important as well, as a futuristic cyberpunk font will be necessary to create the vibe you’re looking for. Be sure to add in holographic elements too to really sell the retrofuturism look. And if you can, be sure to add some 80s synth music as well.
#19 This Building In Newyawk'
Image credits: RyomaNagare
#20 1940s Vision Of Food Delivery Future
Image credits: abdouhlili
#21 Gas Station In Germany 1958
Image credits: DaMirage
Countere notes that artist Robert McCall is considered to be a giant when it comes to retrofuturism. On the topic, McCall says, “Today we live in a world filled with awesome possibilities, both good and bad. The rush of technology is so rapid, to stay abreast of it has become more and more difficult. Our understanding of the physical universe continues to grow and astonishes us with its marvelous complexity.”
#22 A Vestige Of The Past
Image credits: The_Cow_God
#23 The Future We Were Promised
Image credits: PapaP123
#24 Television Newspaper - Some Day You May Be Able To Receive The Front Page Of Your Morning Newspaper This Way
Image credits: dabderax
“To be an artist in these times of explosive change is, for me, a privilege and a challenge,” Robert McCall says. “My goal is to document in my drawings and paintings a small part of this changing world and to anticipate in my work, the future that lies ahead.”
What’s fascinating about retrofuturism is that there will always be more of it. We will never know how accurate our predictions about the future are until future generations look back on them. What you’re writing about or watching today might one day be seen as a sparkling example of retrofuturism!
#25 A Vision Of Future Computing By Robert Tinney In 1981
Image credits: reddit.com
#26 Himiko, Tokyo's Futuristic And Manga-Like Ferry Boat
Image credits: symlink
#27 Space Resort
Image credits: dungen123
We hope you’re enjoying these photos that might somehow give you a blast from the past and the future, pandas! Keep upvoting the pics you find most fascinating, and let us know in the comments below what you expect the future to look like. Then, if you’re interested in checking out another article from Bored Panda featuring retrofuturism, look no further than right here!
#28 Interplanetary Tourism Posters/Ads
Image credits: The_qp_god
#29 The Toronto Reference Library
Image credits: Tatsunen
#30 Self Driving Cars Of The Future, Circa 1960
Image credits: abt137
#31 Concept "Superplane"
Image credits: kingsaw100
#32 1955 Ford Beatnik Bubble
Image credits: Oculus_Orbus
#33 Artoo Deco
Image credits: firstorbit
#34 Bob Must Have Slack!
Image credits: A-No-1
#35 We Really Messed Up
Image credits: The_qp_god
#36 We All Live In A Yellow Airplane
Image credits: earthmoonsun
#37 Citroen's Vision Of The Future Of Cars In 1980
Image credits: gtam
#38 Trans-Atlantic Cable Car Retro-Future Concept By Gian Andri Bezzola
Image credits: jaykirsch
#39 Nailed It
Image credits: paschalswindle
#40 Beautifully Styled Gas Station In Slovakia
Image credits: HairySquid68
#41 Worst Space Suit Design Ever?
Image credits: captainmagictrousers
#42 1984 Smart Watch
Image credits: wooly_mastodon
#43 This Was An Actual Space Suit Grumman Aircraft Corp Tried To Sell Nasa In 1962
Image credits: Novusod
#44 Aston Martin Bulldog Concept (1980). Cybertruck Anyone?
Image credits: madribby78
#45 ???
Image credits: Bihari_babu
#46 New York Central Streamliner “ Mercury “ 1936
Image credits: blcknoir
#47 VR In 1989
Image credits: ashe101ashe
#48 The Nuclear-Powered Bullet Train From The 1970's Series "Supertrain"
Image credits: RyanSmith
#49 What Nissan Thought Would Be The Future Of The Automotive Industry Shown In The Nrv-II Concept Car(1982). Pretty Damn Accurate
Image credits: bardia_afk
#50 Mcdonald’s In Roswell, Nm
Image credits: miguelogin
#51 Transhumanism (With Added Sixth Finger). Oil By Me
Image credits: pavlokandyba
#52 1985 Subaru Xt Coupe Dash
Image credits: therealjackyoung
#53 Lancia Stratos Zero, 1970
Image credits: PapaP123
#54 Kuba Komet, Futuristic Home Entertainment Center From West Germany, Late 50's
Image credits: jaykirsch
#55 (Soviet Modernism) The Georgian Ministry Of Highway Construction In Tbilisi, Georgia. Built In 1975
Image credits: reddit.com
#56 Virtual Reality, 90's Perspective
Image credits: ilikelegoandcrackers
#57 Sanae Iv, South African Antarctic Base (Built In 1997)
Image credits: simulation_goer
#58 Pixar's Wall-E Had Some Great Retrofuturistic Style Posters For Its Promotional Content
Image credits: Monmonstar
#59 From The Paper Age To The Digital Age (Andy Zito ‘85)
Image credits: Donna201299
#60 Interior Of The A 1985 Nissan 300zx
Image credits: BambiKilla420
#61 Time, 1968, Race For The Moon Cover Art
Image credits: jaykirsch
#62 The Fuji TV Headquarters In Japan
Image credits: Clickclack999
#63 Old Diving Suits Are So Cool
Image credits: BroozeCampbell
#64 Look Who Pulled Up Next To Me At A Red Light Last Night
Image credits: strapping_young_vlad
#65 I Was Told This Belongs Here. The Rocketeer Pack And Helmet I Built
Image credits: CaptainAwwsum
#66 This 14” TV From 2000 Was Sold Only In Japan And Included A Built-In Sega Dreamcast Console
Image credits: KeenlySting
#67 Nuke-Proof Underground City Below Manhattan, 1969 (Oscar Newman)
Image credits: earthmoonsun
#68 Old Twa Terminal At Jfk
Image credits: Dare_Famous
#69 I Got A Tattoo Inspired By Danny Haas’ Retro Rocket Ships
Image credits: boilons
#70 Can't Say She Wasn't Right (1982)
Image credits: DeadInsideOutside
#71 Obviously Their Second Car
Image credits: RonaldMcD
#72 Monsanto House Of The Future 1957
Image credits: graemebo
#73 The Missle, Time Magazine, January 1956
Image credits: jzilla1995
#74 Steering Wheel/Dashboard For The 1986 Oldsmobile Inca Concept Car
Image credits: 5_Frog_Margin
#75 The Motorola Aura Really Feels Like The Retrofuturism Dream Phone
Image credits: Zriana
#76 The Bright Side Of Atomic Energy
Image credits: alexalex99000
#77 This Traffic Control Cabin Seems Oddly Futuristic. 1970s, Chernivtsi
Image credits: Megabyte0101
#78 As Someone Who Lived In A Post-Socialist Country This Is Highly Disturbing
Image credits: somesz
#79 1985 Future "Ender's Game" By John Harris
Image credits: jaykirsch
#80 1980s Soviet Laptop Prototype
Image credits: trorez
#81 The Unfinished Ryugyong Hotel, Pyongyang, North Korea, Designed In 1987
Image credits: reddit.com
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