Frutiger Aero is an aesthetic that was prevalent from roughly 2004 to 2013, following the end of the Y2K era. It is characterized by its use of skeuomorphism, glossy textures, nature and humanism, water, bubbles, auroras, bokeh, flourish patterns, bright and vibrant colors (usually contrasted on a white or monochrome background), and glass.
History
The term Frutiger Aero was coined by Sofi Lee of the Consumer Aesthetics Research Institute in 2017, leading to a gradual increase of interest in the aesthetic.
Frutiger Aero has its roots in 2003 to 2004 builds of Microsoft's Windows Longhorn (later renamed Windows Vista). Over time, the "Plex" theme was updated, the earliest "Windows Aero" glass borders (though technically not true Aero) were introduced, the glossier "Slate" theme replaced the Plex theme, and finally complete Aero effects were introduced in Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer via the Desktop Window Manager (though a registry modification was needed to make the OS's entire UI Aero).
The mainstreaming of Frutiger Aero began in Late 2004 with the releases of Windows Media Player 10 (featuring design ideas found in Longhorn), as well as the Seventh Generation of Video Game Consoles like the Nintendo DS (first to kick off this gen, despite the Y2K-esque and Technozen designs) and PlayStation Portable (XrossMediaBar, in development since the PSX in 2003). It started to become more common in 2005 and 2006, with the release of Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, Longhorn Build 5048 (the first build where the system's entire UI was Aero), Windows Vista Beta 1, the Xbox 360 (Blades Dashboard), Nintendo DS Lite, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii. By 2007, with the release of Windows Vista (retail version) and the first iPhone (iPhone OS 1.0), Frutiger Aero was completely established. Frutiger Aero is similar to the Y2K aesthetic and can be considered its successor, as it shares a similar bright and glossy futuristic look, albeit in a more refined form. It was also concurrent with the McBling and Surf Crush aesthetics, and overlaps with them in some respects.
In 2012, the skeuomorphic look of Frutiger Aero (i.e. Windows 7) started to fade in favor of the Flat Design look (i.e. Windows 10). Sometimes, companies like Windows 8 and LG webOS 1.0-3.6 have switched to Frutiger Metro, and then to Flat Design. By 2013, Frutiger Aero was fully overtaken by Flat Design with the release of iOS 7. In 2017, another minimalist Web/tech aesthetic appeared, known as Corporate Memphis.
Since 2022, Frutiger Aero has made a slight comeback via TikTok videos, similar to the Y2K revival. Given that Y2K has been undergoing a popular resurgence since the Mid-Late 2010s with Neo-Y2K, it is also likely a "Neo-Aero" movement is currently underway or will be underway in the future.
Visuals
Key elements of UIs that use this aesthetic include linear gradients (typically seen on buttons and navigation bars), bloom/glow, and a shine/sheen on many elements in effort of making them look 3D and realistic. Frutiger Aero visuals, at first glance, could be mistaken for simply being the Y2K aesthetic in action, but the biggest difference is that the images tend to have a higher definition visual compared to a lot of the Y2K aesthetics (largely due to it coming around just as HD started to become popular). The Frutiger Aero visuals also somewhat lack the sort of "anything goes" mentality often associated with the Y2K aesthetic (i.e. the "Green Head" of Windows ME's Media Player), going for more of a rigid and refined look. The Frutiger Aero look was the "halfway point" between the busyness of the Y2K era and the minimalism of the Flat Design/Corporate Memphis era.
Frutiger Aero is named after Adrian Frutiger (who created the Frutiger font commonly used in this era) and Windows Aero (the UI theme of Windows Vista/7, which spread outward and influenced many other companies' design choices of this era).
Media
Unlike with the Y2K aesthetic of the Late 90s and Early 2000s, which saw its reach into movies, TV, music, and video games of a science-fiction persuasion, there was less overlap between this aesthetic and popular culture. It was and is mainly a corporate or clinical design philosophy.
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TV shows
- LazyTown (2004-2007)
- Robotboy (2005-2008)
- Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (2006-2016)
- Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! (2006-2010)
- The Office (2005-2013)
- The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019)
- WWE PG Era (2008-2014)
- Bubble Guppies (2011-present)
Movies
- Wall-E (2008)
- Astro Boy (2009)
- Avatar (2009)
- Inception (2010)
- The Avengers (2012)
Video games
Because of its bright and minimal design, Frutiger Aero was heavily used in video games meant to ease and relax, such as fl0w or Purble Place. However, Portal, Mirror's Edge, and Spore are notable, and popular examples of the aesthetic in the AAA video game world (the latter two being published by Electronic Arts). Certain engines such as Unreal Engine (used in Mirror's Edge) and the Source Engine (used to create Half-Life, Portal, Garry's Mod, etc.) tended towards the design philosophy of the time.
- Mirror's Edge (2008)
- Portal (2007-2011)
- Child of Eden (2011)
- Electroplankton (2005)
- Subnautica (2014)
- Mass Effect (2007-2012)
- flOw (2007)
- Flower (2009)
- Journey (2012)
- Tumble (2010)
- Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
- Sonic Colors (2010)
- Spore (2008)
- Blur (2010)
- Purble Place (2007)
- Art of Balance (2010)
- Roblox (2006)
- Mario Kart Wii (2008)
- Mario Kart 7 (2011)
- "Wii" series (2006-2014)
- Nintendogs (2005-2011)
- EyePet (2009)
- Kinectimals (2010)
- Kinect Sports (2010-2011)
- .detuned (2009)
- My Aquarium (2008)
- Lumines series (2005, PSP)
Technology
This aesthetic was used in the technology and visual design of the time, and is often associated with iOS 1 to 6 and the early days of Web 2.0.
- PlayStation Portable (2004-2011)
- Xbox 360 (2005-2013)
- Nintendo DS Lite (2006)
- PlayStation 3 (2006-2012)
- Nintendo Wii (2006-2013)
- Intel-based iMac (2006-2020)
- Windows Vista (2007)
- Windows Mobile 6.0-6.5 (2007-2009)
- iOS 1-6 (2007-2012)
- Mac OS X 10.5-10.9 (2007-2013)
- Android 1.0-4.4 (2008-2013)
- Nintendo DSi (2008-2010)
- Windows 7 (2009)
- Nintendo 3DS (2011-2012)
- PlayStation Vita (2011-2014)
- Nintendo Wii U (2012)
- 2005-2013 YouTube
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Music
Although Indie Rock and Electropop were popular during Frutiger Aero's heyday, it is very difficult to discern what music falls under the Frutiger Aero category. Technozen music, despite technically being from a different aesthetic, can be considered a part of Frutiger Aero, as well as the use of pianos, guitars, violins, digital sound effects, and other synthesized samples, that were commonly used as backround music for advertising, tech design, and video games (particularly on the Wii) during the time period. Certain genres such as Electro House, Progressive House, Trance, Ambient, Synthpop, and early, mellow versions of Dubstep can also qualify as such.
- 009 Sound System
- Mac OS Leopard Welcome video music
- Galaxy S4 Ringtone
- Genki Rockets
- Télépopmusik - Don't Look Back
- "Wii" Series OSTs
- Wii Menu Music
- Nintendo DSi Menu Music
- Wii U Menu Music
- Playstation 5 Menu Music
- Geometry Dash OST
- Michael Dow - Ascent
- Airbase - Escape
- Alexis Jordan - Happiness
- Sean Tyas - Melbourne (Original Mix)
- Airbase - Medusa
- Alt+F4 - Alt+F4
- Airbase - Tangerine
- Bentley Jones - Dreams of an Absolution
- Ferry Corsten - Beautiful
- Orkidea - Beautiful (Alt+F4 Remix)
- Robert Nickson - Circles (Andy Blueman Remix)
- Laura Jansen - Use Somebody (Armin van Buuren Rework)
- Sky On Demand
- The Homebrew Channel Banner Theme (Wii)
- Solar Fields (The composer of Mirror's Edge)
- Is Tropical - South Pacific
- ryo & Dixie Flatline - Cumulonimbus Graffiti feat. Hatsune Miku
- mikuru396 - melody... feat. Hatsune Miku
- James Yuill - This Sweet Love
- Yabujin - Flash Casanova
- Pasocom Music Club - Panorama
- Porter Robinson - Shelter
- I Am Robot and Proud - The Satellite Kids
- I Am Robot And Proud - Light and Waves
- Röyksopp - Remind me (someone else's radio Remix)
- Röyksopp - Eple
- Röyksopp - Vision One
- Pro Bass Fishing 2003 Soundtrack - Calm 1
- XBOX 360 Avatar Editor Background Music
- WALL-E Soundtrack - 72 Degrees and Sunny
- DJ Intranet - Frutiger Aero
- DJ Intranet - Skeuomorphism
- Dreiton - C418
- Taswell - C418
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Gallery
Resources
External links to help get a better understanding of this aesthetic:
- https://www.are.na/consumer-aesthetics-research-institute/frutiger-aero-ptg8tgmzbig
- https://www.are.na/froyo-tam/frutiger-aero
- https://cari.institute/aesthetics/frutiger-aero
- https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EverythingIsAnIPodInTheFuture
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Aero
- https://www.reddit.com/r/FrutigerAero/
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