Designing for the Future with the Familiar
- bradyux
- Mar 23
- 3 min read
How to Remix Nostalgia with AI and Build What's Next
Welcome to 2025.
We’re knee-deep in AI tools. Everything’s faster, slicker, smarter—but also starting to look... the same.
Midjourney, Figma First Draft, ChatGPT prompts—we’ve got the power of a thousand creative assistants at our fingertips. But what do we make with it?
At Brady UX, we believe the answer lies in looking backward to move forward.
We call it Future Familiarism.
What is Future Familiarism?
Future Familiarism is the design philosophy of remixing nostalgic styles, metaphors, and aesthetics using modern tools—especially AI—to create fresh, emotionally resonant experiences.
It’s about:
📀 Bringing back the weird quirks of old UIs
🎮 Tapping into memories (like your first Nokia screen or a 90s cereal box)
🎨 Layering retro vibes with futuristic textures
🤖 Letting AI do the heavy lifting while you drive the story
This isn’t just "vaporwave for vaporwave’s sake."This is thoughtful, creative reuse. It’s taking what feels familiar—and twisting it into something new and unforgettable.
Why It Works
Nostalgia triggers emotional connection.We remember sounds, shapes, typefaces, even awkward interactions (like Clippy popping up at the worst time).
When we mix those memories into our design—especially when enhanced with AI—we create something more than usable. We create experiences.
Here’s the formula we like to use:
(Memory + Modern UI) × Intention = Magic
Examples in the Wild
Want to see Future Familiarism in action? Here are a few examples:
Apple’s Notes app still uses a yellow notepad as a visual metaphor. It’s clean, modern—and familiar.
The Humane AI Pin UI uses gradients and tactile animations that feel almost like old school skeuomorphism.
Story-driven websites with pixel art, grainy textures, or “terminal mode” design cues bring that retro-future vibe to life.
Or take a look at Brady UX’s Remote Surveillance Terminal project—we used AI-generated Cold War surveillance UI, mixed it with responsive design, and added a sprinkle of campy sci-fi noir.
How to Try It Yourself (A Quick Guide)
Here’s how you can experiment with Future Familiarism today:
1. Pick a Nostalgic Anchor
What old interface, object, or aesthetic still sticks with you?
An old cassette tape?
A Tamagotchi screen?
The Windows 98 Start Menu?
Use that as a visual reference point.
2. Remix with AI Tools
Use Midjourney, Runway ML, or Leonardo.AI to generate:
Backgrounds
Icon sets
Vintage textures
Imaginary hardware or UI concepts
Pro Tip: Mix prompts like "modern UI + retro calculator + 70s color palette".
3. Design for Emotional Flow
Now bring it into Figma or your tool of choice.Keep these questions in mind:
What will surprise someone in a good way?
What will they feel when they see this?
What’s the story behind the style?
Add motion, depth, and sound if you can. Lean into the sensory experience.
4. Test for Coherence
Even weird design needs logic.Make sure your remix has:
Usability
Purpose
Intentionality
Retro isn’t an excuse for bad UX—it’s a chance to create great contextual UX.
Join the Movement
We’re opening up a Brady UX Community Challenge: Make a remix of something old using modern tools. Post your creation, your process, and what inspired it.
Use the hashtag #FutureFamiliarism and tag @BradyUX (or your favorite platform).
We’ll feature our favorites and explore ways to collaborate on future experiments.
TL;DR
AI is incredible—but don’t let it make your work soulless
Design with emotional memory in mind
Remix the familiar to invent the future
Nostalgia isn’t a gimmick—it’s a tool
Let’s build a creative movement together
Want help with your remix? Need a collaborator? Book a coffee chat—we’d love to jam.
Comentarios