What does it look like?
The grunge design is often recognized by using graphics that give a dirty feel. Dirty stains and textures, drips, splats, sprays, torn images, hand-drawn elements and creased pieces of paper are common design elements in grunge design. Often, elements from our daily life is replicated in their real form without any digital glossiness.
Irregular elements
A few irregular or dirty elements in an otherwise glossy design can help bring personality into the design and give a more realistic look. It is the small details that influence the mood of the user and defines his or her perception of the site.
Colors
Grunge designs often uses subdued colors. Brown, beige, grey, and black is seen again and again. The subdued, dirty and dull colors mixed with textures and real life graphics creates a look anything but boring.
The more bright and vivid colors get in a grunge design, the less striking the design is perceived.
Trends in grunge design
- Dirty textures and background images
- Irregular lines and frames
- Yellowed scotch tape
- Paper- and photo clips, needles and pins
- Coffee rings and dirty stains
- Torn paper and dirty edges
- Dog-ears
- Hand-written elements
Where is it used?
The grunge style has always been used extensively on band and music websites and urban lifestyle sites. It seems that these kind of sites uses the very free form to express and convey their artistic and often anti-mainstream image.
Check out more examples of the grunge design style in action.
toxboe
darklightart.com
China Manufacturing
18 Feb, 2010
This seems pretty interesting article for many web designers. Thanks for posting! :)
Site Pe .NET
22 Oct, 2010
I found out now that this graphic style has a name :) Thank you!
Best regards
Webbdesign
21 Nov, 2010
I found the article interesting. Actually I was stalling a little with a project with a lot of glossy element.
To make a little more dirty will give me an extra edge in this project, I think.
Pippa@web design Stafford
23 Nov, 2010
I’d heard the term used but never explained as well as this. Personally don’t like the term “grunge” but I suppose it does fit with the theme.
seo melbourne
25 Nov, 2010
I found very nice and informative your blog to design some think thank you for it. and be continue.
Houston Web Design
2 Dec, 2010
My approach to grunge is kinda like what you mention in your posting: a mostly polished overall design, but with grungy elements injected here and there.
I feel that combining things that have become trends tends to make the design relevant for a little bit longer once one or the other trend dies out.
Montreal Web Design
26 Jan, 2011
Website designed like you described look cool but “more realistic”? Not sure about that.
Al - Web designer
31 Jan, 2011
I really like the Grunge style of web design. But unfortunately I haven’t yet had a client adventurous enough to let me loose on their site. (and to be fair most would have been completely at odds with their brand).
I have tried using some elements of the style, but find it generally has to be all or nothing.
Web design india
3 Feb, 2011
well toxboe !! Using Grunge is an art i mean there is very thin line between nice Grunge based design and worst Grunge design..You need to be very selective specially using Grunge in retro look…We have done on our home page (http://www.addictivemedia.co.in) and (http://www.dynamedya.com) and it took us lot of time for balancing out each n every element
hair styles
5 Feb, 2011
Grunge is cool for the right type of website. Toxboe your designs look amazing.
Regards Katie
Photoshop Tutorials
10 Feb, 2011
Grunge is awesome… but one must be careful too much of it, and your well thought out piece gets ruined!
Web Design Melbourne
15 Feb, 2011
grunge style is definitely the “go to” style for music/band websites nowadays. We highly recommend trying the grunge style for photography, performing arts and even architectural websites to give that rugged yet professional feel to the site.
Terrasse En Bois
15 Feb, 2011
Grunge design is destined to a very specific crowd, but it will be very appealing for them. Nice work.
martin
19 Feb, 2011
grunge style is definitely the “go to” style for music/band websites nowadays. We highly recommend trying the grunge style for photography, performing arts and even architectural websites to give that rugged yet professional feel to the site.but one must be careful too much of it, and your well thought out piece gets ruined!
Ash
22 Feb, 2011
Grunge is awesome… but one must be careful too much of it, and your well thought out piece gets ruined!
im a perth web designer
Website Design Los Angeles
22 Feb, 2011
Fantastic information, great articles! I’m still not getting everything, but I’m learning and I will read them again and again! Thanks. Good tip with good examples. I would have preferred to see a few more examples that didn’t have anything to do with Nevertheless, your advice has me going back to an upcoming post on my own blog so I can “fine tune” the
Web Design Nashville
25 Feb, 2011
As a Nashville web design agency owner, I understand the importance of clean design, but something inside me always wants more texture and depth. Grunge designs may have an edgy feel for some, but to me they feel natural (if done right).
Just like a good piece of art, a website design should make you feel something. Sometimes a clean design is necessary, but if given the freedom to experiment on a web project, I think you should. Being in Nashville, there are plenty of opportunities to experiment with grunge designs on musician and music industry websites.
It’s all about what feels good. So, do it! Just remember that everything is better in moderation…
Web Design Montreal
30 Mar, 2011
It is the small details that influence the mood of the user and defines his or her perception of the site = Agree 150%
Remember people! Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. by Leonardo da Vinci.
AngeWayne
19 May, 2011
Well i imagine a great graphics base on the info, it will surely capture every eyes. I think grunge web design style is one of the best.
Sam
26 May, 2011
I really like the grunge elements. Question is how do you incorporate those into a faith-based website? Haven’t seen many examples of good grunge design in Christian websites.
Conrad
16 Jan, 2012
I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone!
Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the outstanding work!