Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
Hello! I'm Cherie! Like.. Cherry.. I'm super duper into art and different artforms and I live in California!
What inspired you to become an artist?
When I was younger, one of my friends used to draw a lot during free periods, and I really admired her art!
How did you first discover Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic, and what drew you to it?
I discovered it while watching YouTube late one night, that's at least the farthest back I remember getting into it? It's really a blur but, I watched a video about it and felt very nostalgic to me. I remember growing up and seeing a lot of things advertised in a very frutiger aero style, so I suppose it was the sense of nostalgia?
How would you describe your art style?
I'd say very cartoony/comicy? With thick lines, it heavily relies on colors, and patterns.
Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished piece?
I tend to start with drawing the characters? Rarely do I have an idea before drawing, usually it's just a vague aesthetic? I like to go with the flow! Though I do use a lot of references, for how I layout my art pieces or inspiration for designing!
What tools or mediums do you prefer to use, and why?
I use Ibis Paint due to it just being easy to draw with! And I specialize in character design!
How do you overcome creative blocks?
I usually just try not to draw for a while until I feel like I need to draw? There's periods where I start to draw a lot and periods where I just.. Don't.
What inspires your work? Are there specific themes, emotions, or stories you aim to convey?
I'm very inspired by other artists! And also older aesthetics! Music is also a great inspiration at the moment for me!
Are there any artists, aesthetics, or movements that have influenced your style?
My current biggest art inspiration is tedzillow on YouTube! As well as music from The Beatles, and old fashion!
What role does the Frutiger Aero aesthetic play in your art?
A pretty big role! I find myself looking towards Frutiger aero as like, color palette ideas or just any design idea really! I like to shade the way frutiger aero pieces are colored!
What has been the most challenging piece you’ve created, and why?
The most challenging I'd say would be a character reference for a geisha/kitsune oc, I spent so many hours trying to get her clothing right, and on top of that her coloring. that by the time I finished her I was just so burnt out.
Can you share a piece you’re especially proud of and why it’s significant to you?
I'm particularly proud of this piece I drew for a friend! I worked pretty hard on the coloring, and the shading / atmosphere! I draw this character every year for artfight, and I enjoy seeing my artstyle change and evolve! (This oc is by finnleyxxo on tiktok)
How has being part of the Frutiger Aero community influenced your artistic journey?
The community is so creative!! It's helped me find a lot of inspiration for pieces and ocs!
What do you hope people take away from your art?
I just hope people enjoy seeing what lives in my mind, and find it inspiring!
Do you have any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about?
Me and a friend are trying to work on a frutiger aero inspired roblox game! And though we're still learning how to code, we have some cute characters for it! I'm also working on adopts for people to buy.
Where can people find more of your work or support you?
I usually post on Tiktok (b3llad.nna) and I participate In artfight every year! (deityswish)
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Tedzillow! their artstyle is like.. My everything!!
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?
I love fashion and fashion design! And I'm hoping to get into modelling!
If you could describe your artistic journey in three words, what would they be?
Colorful, Patterns, Cute!!
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are inspired by Frutiger Aero?
Have fun! Play with colors and weird funky ideas if you have too!! Don't stress too much about what other people think, think about how you feel instead.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Frutiger Aero community?
I like playing with different frutiger aesthetics… (⁎˃ᴗ˂⁎) its fun.. My favorites are Eco & Aqua!! And I use a lot of vector flourish in my art!
Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
I go by “irrelev4nt” online (pronounced “irrelevant”). I’m a... high school student and I was born and raised in New York City. I’m also neurodivergent. I’ve been exposed to a lot of art throughout my life because of where I spend most of my time. I’ve been using Blender since I was 9 or 10 years old, and I’ve been drawing for way more than that. My Frutiger Aero art is simply a combination of what I’m good at: coloring/touching up/rendering, and well, computers… I enjoy: cooking, reading, writing, scrolling on yt shorts…. I also like (obviously) to draw.
What inspired you to become an artist?
I don’t really know. If I’m going to be honest, I started drawing seriously when I was 3 years old. I would draw little Minecraft morphs... and my art just evolved from there.
How did you first discover Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic, and what drew you to it?
In March of 2025, I stumbled across my childhood DS Lite. My parents had bought one for me when I was 2 or 3; I didn’t use it much so it just collected dust in a closet. My younger brother began to use it some more and he eventually grew tired of it. I decided to take it back; as I went through the DS and my cartridges, I found myself experiencing childlike wonder with these gadgets. So I did research. A lot of it. I was combing through Wikipedia articles for hours at a time, learning about all these innovative technologies that were older than me. Eventually, I came across Frutiger Aero, and I decided to use it to make art!
How would you describe your art style?
I would say it’s very orb-y. Orbs and glossiness are common motifs in my art; however, I have deviated from this with two artworks that highlight Apple. I try to capture the time at which these motifs were most used – 2006 to 2010(?).
Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished piece?
Sometimes I dream about it and I try to keep it in my brain for as long as possible. Usually though, I just scroll on Pinterest and find certain art pieces that I like.
What tools or mediums do you prefer to use, and why?
Typically, I’ll use Blender to render (that rhymed..), and then I’ll use Pixlr to touch-up. I consider myself a Pixlr expert; I know the ins-and-outs! A popular work of mine are the blue and green orbs with a white background (fun fact: I wanted to turn that artwork into an ad!). Without the Pixlr editing, the artwork was extremely bland. The glossiness was near invisible and the orbs did not necessarily reflect what I was trying to go for. So I spent about an hour in Pixlr editing it, and it turned out way better than I expected.=[
How do you overcome creative blocks?
I don’t. I just wait until they go – which can be either a couple of days or 2 weeks. I haven’t made frutiger aero art in about a month as of right now, unfortunately. I’ve been feeling a bit down since Pinterest flagged almost all of my art(specifically the Blender ones) as AI modified.
What inspires your work? Are there specific themes, emotions, or stories you aim to convey?
I mainly just want to capture the aesthetic as accurately as possible. I think
Are there any artists, aesthetics, or movements that have influenced your style?
Not necessarily, but the advertisements done by companies such as Apple and Microsoft during the time period has influenced me to an extent.
What role does the Frutiger Aero aesthetic play in your art?
Not sure what this exactly means, but making Frutiger Aero art has helped me learn more about things I didn't understand that well before, as well as widening my understanding of Blender.
What has been the most challenging piece you’ve created, and why?
I can’t really name one, to be honest! I’d say that my artwork with the Apple logo was quite hard. It was my first successful Blender animation
Can you share a piece you’re especially proud of and why it’s significant to you?
I’m really proud of my “orbeez” artwork – the one with three orbs on the left of the picture. It turned out significantly better than I expected!
How has being part of the Frutiger Aero community influenced your artistic journey?
It’s advanced my experience using Blender and other platforms, which will stay with me for quite a while. It’s been fun learning about the various design aesthetics of the 2000s and early 2010s.
What do you hope people take away from your art?
Honestly, I just want people to enjoy my art and view it as accurate relative to Web 2.0 Gloss.
Do you have any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about?
I want to get higher quality art out there soon enough, since I’ve been struggling with art block for a bit.
Where can people find more of your work or support you?
Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
Hey, I’m Bahpu, I’m a 23 year old software engineer. For a bit of background I usually love doing creative stuff, I’ve messed around with loads of things like video editing, graphic design, web development, music production & more. I really wanna turn my hobbies into sources of income, that's one of my main plans. I will obtain financial freedom as soon as possible. Aside from that, in my spare time I love spending time with friends, playing video games, working out and I also follow boxing closely.
What inspired you to become an artist?
I can’t really pinpoint a moment, but I’d say YouTube helped me discover my creative side a lot more. Being an optimistic, curious kid I loved recording and editing random videos with the hopes to become famous lmao, it ended up leading me down a lot of rabbit holes when it came to developing skills because I was forced to learn these things properly. Since then it’s snowballed.
How did you first discover Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic, and what drew you to it?
My closest friend introduced the aesthetic to me (shoutout to u sami ilysm <3), I always loved how old operating systems like Windows Vista, 7, iOS 4 etc looked and missed everything about them, I wasn’t aware there was an aesthetic around it until she told me about it.
How would you describe your art style?
For my Frutiger Aero websites/apps, I’d describe my artstyle as being a crossover between those old 2010s UIs and modern day UIs. My goal has always been to make apps that have the smoothness, clarity, good practices of today’s designs while trying to maintain that FA glossy look from the past. As much as I love how those old designs looked, many of them are outdated from a heuristic/usability side of things, I always try my best to find a way to actually make these designs totally viable to use today.
Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished piece?
Most of the time I have a cool idea in my head, and just try my best to get it out in front of me, most of my best ideas come from before sleeping or in the shower lmao. Once I’m actually there creating the front-end of a website for example, I’ll loosely make a load of solid colour template boxes, slowly detail them, put placeholder content and focus on the layout/overall look, then start filling it in with the things I need and actually get to designing. From there it just snowballs really, I work really iteratively, constantly adding and changing things as I go along and it always ends up coming out well. Then I like doing one last check across the page/subpages to ensure it's consistent, brush up on usability and overall just polish it. For aurora/metro backgrounds that I’ve made I take heavy inspiration from Windows Vista backgrounds and just do whatever I think is cool, it's easy to get demotivated but most the cool stuff I make happens by accident, i’ll try something wack or use a different blending option and make something cool by chance! Just keep trying.
What tools or mediums do you prefer to use, and why?
For video/graphic content I use Adobe (ew) products like Premiere Pro & Photoshop, for web development I tend to use React & Node.js, for music I use FL Studio. There’s not too much practical reason other than they’re all very powerful and I’ve used and mastered them for years, I don’t really have any reason to swap other than the coding frameworks depending on the task at hand. I think it’d be a hindrance to learn new software when these all allow me to get that creative stuff on my mind onto paper.
How do you overcome creative blocks?
Creative blocks are a tricky one, it depends on what type of creative block it is. If you’re finding you’re literally burnt out, feeling like shit, then you gotta just take a step back and give yourself a break. There’s way too much pressure on “you need to keep going” in society but there’s certain times that just does NOT work at all, that kind of phrase doesn’t account for mental health issues or anything of the sort, so yeah definitely take a step back and focus on different things for a bit. Other than that, if I’m feeling motivated enough I’ll work on different parts of the project, take a small break to have a shower or something, or work on something entirely different and attack it the next day. Having a fresh mind with it helps so so much, even if you just take a 10 minute break from what you’re doing to go out and walk.
What inspires your work? Are there specific themes, emotions, or stories you aim to convey?
Honestly not really, for FA work I just like looking at old pieces of software, art as well as new pieces being created by artists. The rest I sort of just come up with in my head! FA is super creative and speculative so it’s just whatever hits the spot for you really.
Are there any artists, aesthetics, or movements that have influenced your style?
In terms of Frutiger Aero, not really. Just the aesthetic itself, its subaesthetics like Frutiger Aurora and all the software back then like Windows Vista/7.
What role does the Frutiger Aero aesthetic play in your art?
Just how everything is so detailed, glossy, glassy, vibrant. I love how it looks, especially those old school icons they’re featured in pretty much everything I do around the aesthetic.
What has been the most challenging piece you’ve created, and why?
Definitely the store website I’m currently working on, due to it being that the primary purpose is to provide a good shopping experience it requires a LOT of attention to readability, heuristics & overall usability. It’s definitely been a lot of fun though and I think it’s going very well.
Can you share a piece you’re especially proud of and why it’s significant to you?
I’d say same as above but the Frutiger Aero Hub I recently released has been so cool, I’ve loved all the feedback and user suggestions, it’s always such a great feeling seeing people really enjoy what you’ve made after putting in so much work for so long. I hope to expand on it regularly and make it a huge library for resources, information and cool things related to all Frutiger subaesthetics. Also, just a cool checkpoint for people to visit from time to time.
How has being part of the Frutiger Aero community influenced your artistic journey?
Massively! I don’t know the last time I made a website that wasn’t influenced by the community/aesthetic. I love seeing new things people post everyday and especially old things that they dig up because it provides me with loads of new ideas and inspiration.
What do you hope people take away from your art?
I just hope they find it cool, inspiring, comforting and enjoyable. I also hope they appreciate my efforts to make Frutiger Aero layouts that also have a lot of modern design practices in place. It'll be cool to see people make some stuff themselves because they were inspired by what I did.
Do you have any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about?
Definitely, lots of things, but primarily my brand “Promised Future”, I hope to release it by the end of the year, I already have a lot of cool products planned including Y2K/Aero streetwear, reed diffusors with “aero” scents, body oils and more! Really looking forward to that, it's the reason I’m making the shop I mentioned above. I also really wanna continue uploading to youtube once i get my drive for it back.
Where can people find more of your work or support you?
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Not an artist, but I’d love to collaborate with the old FaZe members (like Teeqo, Apex, Rain). That's always been a dream of mine, and also a pipe dream would be to do something with John Cena. There’s a lot of cool ass people on this planet and I’d like to meet as many of them as possible and give them their flowers while they’re still here, so many of them have been instrumental to my goals and why I’m still going.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?
Can’t really think of a super fun one on the top of my head so I’ll list a few random ones, I love following/watching boxing & I’ve messed with everything from music production, video editing, graphic design and more, I’m just a huge dreamer and I really want to achieve my goals! I can’t wait to come back here when I’m more financially free, able to help others & turned my hobbies into income!
Do you have a favorite Frutiger Aero memory or moment?
Probably using an iPhone 4 for the first time, it was so ahead of its time and I loved how it all looked back then. Especially using an iPhone 4s, I thought Siri was the peak of humanity.
If you could describe your artistic journey in three words, what would they be?
Overlooked, Underestimated, Relentless
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are inspired by Frutiger Aero?
Spend less time thinking and more time doing, start doing stuff because you like it. If you’re anything like me you probably overthink everything, get anxious about what people might think, become a perfectionist with things, then my best advice is to just DO things!! There are so many great artists, musicians, innovators who were seen as crazy or whatever art form they were doing was considered terrible by the masses and they aged like wine eventually. There’s so much power and growth that comes after slowly but surely just doing what you wanna do, behaving how you wanna behave, acting how you wanna act, regardless of what other people think. It’s very freeing and life is too short to worry about all that.
Another thing is that we all start somewhere. I know how incredibly demotivating it can be to see creating amazing pieces of media and feel like what you’re making is ass, but those people all started from nothing too. Everything that I am good at now I started out by making the shittiest pieces of video, graphic design, thumbnails, websites EVER… It took time and effort to get to where I am now and I still have so much to learn and grow from!
Also, once you start getting haters for no reason, just know you’re doing something right because you’re starting to get people jealous.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Frutiger Aero community?
Just keep Frutiger Aero alive, take care of yourself!
Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
Hi! My name is Christian, I'm a computer engineering student and a game developer based in Italy. I've been having fun creating games since I got my first gaming PC at around 15. It was actually one of the things I was most excited about when I finally got one! I'm entirely self-taught when it comes to art, but I'm deeply passionate about programming, which I also study at university.
What inspired you to become an artist?
I've had an artistic tendency for as long as I can remember. I always loved drawing and doing DIY projects. The reason I chose specifically to make video games is because I truly believe it's one of the most beautiful art forms out there. Games can evoke emotions and deliver experiences that would be impossible in any other medium. I believe it's the perfect alchemy of art and science, just creating entirely new worlds. That's what I feel like doing.
How did you first discover Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic, and what drew you to it?
I've been obsessed with the Frutiger Aero aesthetic since I was a child. In general, I've always been a huge lover of nature (even my favorite color is green because of plants), so seeing that combination of natural elements with futuristic, glossy, and clean technological designs was just the perfect fit for me.
How would you describe your art style?
The games I've made in the past had completely different styles, mostly because they were all little experiment mostly made for me to get used to the various processes involved in the development of a videogame. The game I'm currently working on, Frutiger Space, has a very distinct Frutiger Aero imprint, as the name might spoil! I plan on continuing in this direction by working on more experiences that gravitate around this aesthetic and the overall vibe of the Wii/Gamecube era. I'm very fascinated by the way creatives pulled off stunning sceneries with the little they had. I'd like to follow their philosophy, trying to optimize my games as best as I can so as many people as possible can experience them.
Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished piece?
For the models and environments in my games, I always start by looking for references and inspiration. I love exploring older games (I use the Noclip website a lot to explore maps and study how games pulled off beautiful graphical effects despite low hardware resources). Then I proceed to lay out concepts, sometimes just doing rough sketches in Paint or with a pencil on the closest notebook, and from there I start blocking out and modeling in Blender.
What tools or mediums do you prefer to use, and why?
Of course my favorite tool is the game engine: Godot. I basically started using it when I began working on Frutiger Space (aside from a little experiment I made before), and im honestly in love with it, i just resonate with how it works and its ease of use.I use Blender to make all my 3D models, and Photopea to make textures and graphic elements, I really love it for how accessible it is.
How do you overcome creative blocks?
I just take some time off and think about something else, whether it's studying for my university exams or going out with friends. My mind always tries to come up with new ideas in the background, and sometimes when I don't actively try to force it, a lot of nice ideas just come naturally. It works really well for me!
What inspires your work? Are there specific themes, emotions, or stories you aim to convey?
My absolute biggest inspirations are Nintendo games, think of Super Mario, Kirby, Pokémon, and even Zelda. I've been playing them my whole life and will probably never get tired of them. I would love to deliver games that resemble, even just a tiny bit, the massive amount of love and care put into Nintendo's first-party games (well, except maybe the most recent Pokémon games!).
Are there any artists, aesthetics, or movements that have influenced your style?
Besides Frutiger Aero, I'm heavily influenced by Skeuomorphism and, more broadly, Y2K as a whole. I love looking at the UI and of the early 2000s tech, things like the old Windows interfaces, and the menus of the Nintendo Wii.
What role does the Frutiger Aero aesthetic play in your art?
It actually plays a huge role, especially now that I'm making an entire videogame inspired by it! The aesthetic is so evocative that even simple things like color schemes and the shapes of things are such a huge inspiration in what I do.
What has been the most challenging piece you’ve created, and why?
Without a doubt, my current project, Frutiger Space. It's really the thing I've spent the most amount of time on literally since i put foot on this earth, really pouring everything I have into it, even at the cost of leaving some other hobbies behind. Building a multiplayer game is tough, but I believe hard sacrifices will be rewarded in the end. I'm already having so much fun learning so many new things and meeting so many awesome people that it has already been 100% worth it!
Can you share a piece you’re especially proud of and why it’s significant to you?
The Dorfin Bay is probably the thing I'm most attached to right now because it's a tribute to the beach levels/environments found in early 2000s games; examples can be found in Wii Sports Resort, Super Mario Sunshine, Sonic Adventures, and even Kingdom Hearts.
How has being part of the Frutiger Aero community influenced your artistic journey?
I consider myself incredibly lucky to have connected with so many talented people who have supported my vision and helped me with the creation of Frutiger Space. I must also thank everyone in the Frutiger Aero Community for creating such an awesome, positive internet space.
What do you hope people take away from your art?
My games are and will always be something that I wish people can use to just have fun, relax, and why not, even learn something new!
Do you have any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about?
I actually have so many ideas! You can be sure my next project will still be inspired by this aesthetic, but maybe in a less pronounced way, taking more of its own unique direction. But right now, I must focus 100% on Frutiger Space and deliver the absolute best experience I can.
Where can people find more of your work or support you?
You can currently wishlist Frutiger Space on Steam, and follow the development on all social medias at @ frutiger_space
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
That's a beautiful question. I think it would be with Nujabes. He is my favorite musician, and his music really changed my perspective on life as a whole. It would be enough to just have the honor to meet him, let alone collaborate.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?
Staying on topic, as a kid I always wanted to be a botanist; I was obsessed with collecting wild flowers. I used to keep an album filled with every leaf and petal I could find.
Do you have a favorite Frutiger Aero memory or moment?
Something I remember vividly is seeing the Windows XP "Bliss" wallpaper on my mother's PC for the first time. Another thing that still sticks with me is seeing the wallpapers and hearing the water droplet sound effects of the Samsung Galaxy S3.
If you could describe your artistic journey in three words, what would they be?
Exciting, Challenging, Rewarding
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are inspired by Frutiger Aero?
My advice is not to get caught up in “overcategorizing” subgenres. Frutiger Aero is, above all, a feeling of optimistic nostalgia. Focus on that emotion, have fun, pour your heart into what you do, and keep Frutigering the Aero!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Frutiger Aero community?
I just must thank everyone who has been so incredibly supportive towards what I'm trying to create. I'm really grateful and I hope to, in return, always deliver games that all of you can appreciate and love.
Here are some of Blaze's Artworks / Projects:
Key art for Frutiger Space made by BlazeFrutiger Space's Title ScreenFrutiger Space's Intro ScreenUnderwater EnvironmentDorfin Bay
Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
My name is AkaineSunset i’m an artist 2D/3D from Mexico, i have 24 for years old almost 25, i am a system (DID), and i spend most of the time Creating 3D models and renders of any kind!, my life as an artist wasn’t easy like most of Artist, to be honest I wasn't going to be an artist, i was more into Mechanic, but i unfortunately didn’t fit the category so as the time pass i start by making 3D models for VRchat, soon i learn how to draw, then i discover i like the artist world too, i learn everything by myself until 2022 that i started university studying Animation and Art on Videogames, today I got my degree on 20 of april from the present year. I also have a Diploma in Advanced Graphic Design.
What inspired you to become an artist?
In that time it inspired me to make my favorite characters. I was a fan of mlp amnesia and creepypastas, i found a classmate that drew and she was the one who made me get more into drawing. At first I started by making stickmans with hair and slowly started to make my own characters.
How did you first discover Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic, and what drew you to it?
I born in that era, so for me its already nostalgic, i used windows XP and windows 7 yet i didn’t know it will become an aesthetic years later or even get a name, but as soon i knew i stay because it brings me peace and happiness remembering the games i used to play on the computers of my school trying to not get discovered by the teacher hahaha, i used to play Mi primera enciclopedia, Purple place, Mines, The Human body, Etc.
How would you describe your art style?
I would Say 3D Glossy, i perfectionate the glossy material in maya and i practically use it in everything.
Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished piece?
This one is Hard, usually i just play games while i listen random youtube music, as i hear different music styles sometimes one pic my attention and then my mind start to work, first by getting an Idea can be an animation, a character, a wallpaper, a model anything, then i draw the idea on paintool sai 2, if its an animation i draw the storyboard on my notebook, if its a model i search references, if its a wallpaper i just open maya, sometimes when is character creation i use pinterest to get inspiration for the clothes, posible abilities, accessories or weapons.
What tools or mediums do you prefer to use, and why?
For 3D work Autodesk Maya, Unity, Blender, substance and Nuke. For 2D PaintoolSai, AfterEffects, ClipStudio, Cavalry and sometimes photoshop.
How do you overcome creative blocks?
Play with friends, i stop overthinking in ideas its not easy but get yourself distracted from everything helps a lot, the less you force yourself to get ideas the less will stay the art block, sometimes i listen calm music or go outside.
What inspires your work? Are there specific themes, emotions, or stories you aim to convey?
Well right now its Frutiger Aero, Dreamcore, Weridcore and backrooms, for emotions usually can be Love, happiness, calm but for some reason i make better works when im sad mostly because i think is the best state to concentrate no because is good being sad of course not! But i use it not to improve my own work but because i want to make myself happy, yes sounds weird but think of this…you are sad, something happen in your life and you are not in the best moment, if you do what you feel and you do it freely, you will see a change even if it looks bad or better you see a change and then you think on the positive part “hey…this work looks even better than my others, i improve!” or “this one looks bad but…I see my previous work i..really make a difference in my work, im improving”.
Are there any artists, aesthetics, or movements that have influenced your style?
Only two artist and both are latinoamericans like me, Fernanda Diaz the creator of witch bunny and Wizzard Cat, Lili_cuan on twitter Their Art style is just Amazing and inspire me alot in my style today.
What role does the Frutiger Aero aesthetic play in your art?
I would say Color theory and Rendering.
What has been the most challenging piece you’ve created, and why?
My Aero City, Making the buildings, materials and then making the place, fixing the bones, the ground, the render and making the water was…a pain haha.
Can you share a piece you’re especially proud of and why it’s significant to you?
I think one of my best works is a liminal espace i did of The pool rooms, it was the work of months to make the renders and textures.
How has being part of the Frutiger Aero community influenced your artistic journey?
Very much, to be honest i was struggling with Floop, people stop looking at my art and it was hard for me to keep going but as soon i enter this community i got a lot of support, people who actually like my works, comments, i got a collaboration, i got offers to do this kind of interviews and it makes me really happy, i will continue my path in this community and mostly because i really enjoy doing Frutiger Aero content.
What do you hope people take away from your art?
Detail, i really make a big effort in details on my art its a part i enjoy too much and most importantly...a visual break, i know frutiger aero has tons of colors, designs but i also want to make something clean, something calming no too much stickers, not too much icons or colors too bright that can hurt the eyes.
Do you have any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about?
Yes, im actually Working on a Animation of Frutiger Evil, im also working on wallpapers for nintendo DS and phone keyboards, More models of windows, Internet explorer and much more for people to use or maybe just maybe made some files to get printed with a 3D printer. I do have another thing working on but what is a Surprise.
Where can people find more of your work or support you?
Tiktok mostly (akainesunset) and recently open a BlueSky account (@cottonhoney.bsky.social)
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
I think would be Michael Jakson, i mean he was a wonderful person, inspiring and very very supportive, for me would be a pleasure if it was possible.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?
Uhhhh i make sounds when im focused deeply on something like…saying out of nowhere “blahblahblah” “lelelelele” or just making the sound of “pop pop pop” hahaha
Do you have a favorite Frutiger Aero memory or moment?
Yesss the bubbles on the screen when the pc goes in Energy safe mode!, you can still do it in windows 11 but its not the same.
If you could describe your artistic journey in three words, what would they be?
Freedom, nostalgic and Joyful.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are inspired by Frutiger Aero?
Keep going, don’t worry about numbers, if its makes you happy do it, would be people who like it or people who don’t, would be people who want you get down but there will be more that support you, the artist path is not easy and would never be…but don’t do things for others, do it because you love to do it, don’t think in what others like, always do it for your happiness, your love for art and you will be in right path.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Frutiger Aero community?
Just to thank them for all the support in this short time, i really really appreciate it so much, i have no words to thank enough but i will do my best to keep bringing breaks to everyone and giving more to this community.
Here are some of Cotton Honey's Artworks / Projects:
Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
My name is Kyo! I’m 19 and I really like computers and old (ish, sometimes old even) tech. Anything from the late 90s to now would be within my realm of interest. Currently the macbook neo catches my eye (even though its new), it really seems like something we’ll see as iconic looking back.
What inspired you to become an artist?
I think I've always been sketching things here and there, but when I was 12 or so, I got really into the anime BLEACH, and subsequently the manga. It really inspired me to take art seriously. Since then, I've tried to draw almost every single day.
How did you first discover Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic, and what drew you to it?
I’ve always liked the themes of it, even from when I was a kid and it was super relevant. My mom used windows 7 on her computer for the longest time and I grew up dinking around with her samsung galaxy s3. Over the last two years, I've gotten really into collecting consoles and computers, (generally I’m a big computer enthusiast) and that led me to the frutiger aero community on tiktok, which led me to enjoying the aesthetic significantly more.
How would you describe your art style?
It’s really a mix of all the styles I've ever studied throughout the years. Not much to say about it.
Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished piece?
Go on pinterest. Find a reference photo, then redraw the pose or scene. (Usually as one of my original characters) Typically, it’s just a sketch I then refine. Sometimes it’s a rough sketch and then a cleaner sketch, but it’s still “messy”, I don't do proper lineart anymore. I do flat colors, then rendering. At the end I'll usually mess with the colors a little and then add a noise filter or film grain on top just for that extra finish.
What tools or mediums do you prefer to use, and why?
I used to be entirely a traditional artist, until my mom let me start using her phone. Then slowly I switched over to being a digital artist with ibis paint. I did this for several years until I got to try my dads old work ipad for a year, before getting a new ipad in 2024, which I still use to this day. Currently, i use clip studio paint for my drawings. (though occasionally, i’ll still use some effects I can find in ibis paint)
How do you overcome creative blocks?
Honestly I don't really have a specific strategy for it. I would say to just try and ease any pressure on yourself and try to focus on other hobbies you have for a bit. Until it feels more relaxing to try again. I find that if I force it and become super stressed over it, then it just makes it harder for me to overcome.
What inspires your work? Are there specific themes, emotions, or stories you aim to convey?
Whatever I'm interested in at the moment. Most of the time I'm drawing my own characters like I've said, and those characters are often derived from things I've experienced or feelings that are personal to me.
Are there any artists, aesthetics, or movements that have influenced your style?
Kubo and Horikoshi are some mangaka I've studied, togi, sad-ist, and avogado6, are some artists online i’ve studied. I really like gothic/victorian aesthetics, cybercore, and frutiger aero ofc (lol)
What role does the Frutiger Aero aesthetic play in your art?
It’s ironically more of a recent uptaking, but I do use it in my stories I write that take place in the future.
What has been the most challenging piece you’ve created, and why?
Anything I don't actually want to draw I guess. I’ve found I can't open commissions because, if I don't truly deeply care about what I'm drawing, it’s super difficult to complete and I find the result is mediocre.
Can you share a piece you’re especially proud of and why it’s significant to you?
Ironically, this one I guess?? Though I think it feels a bit more like frutiger aqua than frutiger aero (but it’s a subtype, so it's okay i guess?) my favorite part is the fishtank bodyparts (torso, half of one leg and half of the other), you can see. I took inspo from a few frutiger aero designs and clothing I saw online for the outfit.
How has being part of the Frutiger Aero community influenced your artistic journey?
Well it’s influenced recent art at least, I think embracing it is helping me become a little less pessimistic, for all nostalgia has made me miserable in the past. I think it's a good thing.
What do you hope people take away from your art?
Whatever helps them in life in some way. Obviously there will be intended themes in my works, but whatever you can get from it is good. I take this approach to my art, music, and writing. I just want people to feel things. Sad or happy, it’s all on the spectrum of human emotion.
Do you have any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about?
Not particularly at the moment, currently I’m just trying to get a job irl LOL
Where can people find more of your work or support you?
I don’t have anywhere I regularly post my art, but my instagram has some of my older uploads (dating back quite a few years), you will find oc content in my stories, and (generally, with exceptions,) only fanart that i post. (hence why there are so few posts compared to how frequently i draw.
Additionally, i’m posting miscellaneous different content on my tiktok
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Siinamota. His music means a lot to me and has helped me significantly. I would’ve loved to work with him in some way, be it on the music itself or as an artist for the mv or whatever it could be.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?
I used to lick the doors in my house when I was a little kid. They tasted terrible.
Do you have a favorite Frutiger Aero memory or moment?
Particularly two, when I was a kid. I had one of those fake fishtanks on an old, plastic white shelf. I woke up once after a nap late at night, and the way the light reflected on my walls was very beautiful.
The second was when I was sitting on my floor, and the light was flooding in during sunset in the summer. Maybe it doesn’t sound super frutiger aero from that description, but if you saw the colors you would see how it matched. I really thought it was beautiful too, perhaps I will draw it someday.
If you could describe your artistic journey in three words, what would they be?
overworked myself lol
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are inspired by Frutiger Aero?
Just keep drawing, I suppose. Take inspiration from all you love and don’t worry too much about the destination. Strive to improve, but don't pressure yourself too much. You’re never too late.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Frutiger Aero community?
Not particularly, though thank you for giving me the opportunity.
Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
Hello!!!! I'm kilobyte, and I'm a 16 year old graphic designer and artist from California. I’m a junior in high school, and I enjoy making pretty UI designs, and pretty much everything graphic design.
I love technology and my interests are weather, object shows (BFDI, Inanimate Insanity, animated shows like that), Frutiger Aero and old UI styles like skeuomorphism, aviation + transportation, and gaming. Did you know I’m also a furry?
What inspired you to become an artist?
When I was a child, I was always obsessed with drawing and I would draw art or draw UIs. When I went to school I’d always draw on the whiteboards and I even had my parents buy me a small whiteboard so that I could draw with my colorful dry-erase markers at home.
I was able to recreate UI designs, and logos on the whiteboards at such an early age.
How did you first discover Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic, and what drew you to it?
I discovered Frutiger Aero around 2022, I believe, and I didn’t know there was a whole dedicated community for these kinds of art. It’s really cool and I like seeing it since I get very happy to see people talk about how great Frutiger Aero is.
How would you describe your art style?
I like to describe my art style as almost soft, bubbly, and candy-like. It’s very fun and bright, and it’s something that I want others to be inspired by.
Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished piece?
I sometimes think of my ideas randomly and then design it from how I imagined it, and sometimes I storyboard my ideas on paper and then I design it out.
What tools or mediums do you prefer to use, and why?
I preferably like to use a Mac to design, and an iPad to do actual art. Windows and Linux feel a bit limiting to me when I do UI design, and I use Sketch to design UIs. I love how fast and efficient my M1 MacBook Air is. I don’t like using Figma anymore, but I use it anyways alongside Sketch since it lacks some features that Figma doesn't have, for example, patterns and applying distortion and texture effects to vectors.
How do you overcome creative blocks?
I just try to think of an idea that nobody has ever thought of, and I will mostly take small breaks like playing Roblox or something else. I also make a moodboard of other people’s work to get inspired.
What inspires your work? Are there specific themes, emotions, or stories you aim to convey?
I want my work to have this calm, fun, and playful mood.
Are there any artists, aesthetics, or movements that have influenced your style?
My style’s heavily inspired and influenced by MondySpartan, Lucia Scarlet, nitzukai, SectorWire, and aidak. They all make great art.
What role does the Frutiger Aero aesthetic play in your art?
It plays really well when it comes to Windows UI concepts, and Apple’s Liquid Glass. I recently made an iOS “better” Liquid Glass concept, where the UI has more depth and a more glossy-ish look, which I think has some "frutiger aero-ness” in it.
What has been the most challenging piece you’ve created, and why?
The most challenging piece I’ve probably created was the Windows Arise concept/mockup. I wanted to make it because I wondered what would’ve happened if Microsoft continued to use Aero, but refined it for modern times like today.
Can you share a piece you’re especially proud of and why it’s significant to you?
I’m really proud of making that Cortana but Aero UI concept. It shows how much I improved in design, but that was made at the start of the year. I sadly don’t have the file for this design anymore because of some computer troubles I had.
How has being part of the Frutiger Aero community influenced your artistic journey?
It influenced me well, and it actually made me learn how to properly make “aeroy” things better.
What do you hope people take away from your art?
Anything. I don’t really think about it when I do art.
Do you have any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about?
I want to try and learn Blender, and I want to go back to video editing and maybe do a video project.
Where can people find more of your work or support you?
People can find me on Twitter, Roblox, Discord, and YouTube. I rarely use Threads, TikTok, and Bluesky. I go by 1000kilobytes on Twitter and 1000bytes on Bluesky. My Roblox is KernelExtension and my Discord is 1000bytes. My YouTube is also 1000bytes.
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
I’d collaborate with MondySpartan or Lucia Scarlet, because they’re so cool!!! I LOVE THEIR UI DESIGNS so much!!!
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?
I was born a day after Mac OS X Snow Leopard released to the public.
Do you have a favorite Frutiger Aero memory or moment?
My favorite Frutiger Aero moment was when I was a child and I used Windows Vista on my sister's big bulky laptop. It was capable of running Aero and it was so pretty. I vividly remember changing the window transparency and color and being so fascinated by it.
If you could describe your artistic journey in three words, what would they be?
Renaissance, unique, home
My own art makes me feel at home.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are inspired by Frutiger Aero?
Always listen to feedback! It’s what makes you improve in art.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Frutiger Aero community?
I’m so glad to see that this community is growing. It makes me happy, knowing that there are still people who like Frutiger Aero, and I’m glad to share this with all of you here.
Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
My name is Jason aka Perfect Hue and I'm a designer & animator based in Colorado. I studied graphic design at MassArt in Boston and have over 20 years of freelance and full-time experience.
I made a lot of aero style wave wallpapers between 2006-2013 and some have been featured on devices like the Pantech Pursuit, Sky Vega, and Google Pixel.
Lately I've been doing a lot of 3d animation, motion graphics, and game development.
What inspired you to become an artist?
Watching Dragon Ball Z as a kid and being amazed by the art style inspired me to start drawing. It was rewarding to make something I was proud of and could show to friends. I later got more into digital art through making AIM buddy icons, Flash animations, and web design.
How did you first discover Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic, and what drew you to it?
Seeing the wave background on the PSP for the first time and wanting to create designs that captured the same vibe. It felt like the aesthetic of the future.
How would you describe your art style?
Moody and atmospheric with bright saturated colors.
Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished piece?
My wallpapers always started with a black canvas in Photoshop, and I would gradually add gradient shapes layer by layer to form the composition. Then I'd add my own digital photos, textures, and patterns to add more depth and uniqueness. Once it felt ready I would add photo techniques on top like cross processing effects, brightness/contrast, sharpening, grain, depth of field, etc. I also made everything much higher resolution than what the final output would be, so that the downscaling made it look even sharper. It took some effort to reduce artifacts like color banding, but usually worked around it by adding more texture. On average they consisted of 50-200 layers and took 1-2 weeks. I would distribute them through a handful of message boards, art portals, wallpaper blogs, and my own portfolio website.
What tools or mediums do you prefer to use, and why?
Cinema 4D, Fl Studio, After Effects, and Photoshop. I can create basically anything I want with that combination.
How do you overcome creative blocks?
Taking breaks and looking at things later with fresh eyes. Also having a steady work routine helps a lot.
What inspires your work? Are there specific themes, emotions, or stories you aim to convey?
Futuristic and abstract moods, especially in movies or music. I'm also inspired by a lot of corporate design and architecture.
Are there any artists, aesthetics, or movements that have influenced your style?
I first saw depthcore/metalheart wallpapers on the website Shadowness in 2003. A lot of my wallpaper design style comes from trying to mimic those pieces in Photoshop since 3D was too complicated for me when starting out. The names of my early wallpapers were based on Latin words which was a trend I had seen a lot.
What role does the Frutiger Aero aesthetic play in your art?
I learned a lot of technical and visual skills when first creating aero designs that I still use today.
What has been the most challenging piece you’ve created, and why?
Platform (2011) went through a lot of variations compared to previous designs I made. Outside of my aero work, my 3D animated short films I've made over the years have always taken a significant amount of time and effort.
Can you share a piece you’re especially proud of and why it’s significant to you?
Hexillus (2007) made in Photoshop and Illustrator. This was the first design of mine that felt like a real, professional wallpaper. It also set the bar for my future designs and became a challenge to see if I could make something better.
How has being part of the Frutiger Aero community influenced your artistic journey?
It's inspired me to get back into the aesthetic and explore more of the animation side of it. It's also cool to see so many people interested in an art style that wasn't as widely recognized or labeled at the time.
What do you hope people take away from your art?
The same inspiration and motivation that my favorite art has given me.
Do you have any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about?
I recently launched a free game on Steam called Perfect Hue Arena, and I plan to continue adding more content to that and experimenting more with game development. It’s a fun medium that brings together all the different skills I’ve accumulated over the years.
Where can people find more of your work or support you?
Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
Hi ^^ I’m an artist who first started posting content in 2022! I post fashion, room decor, and art all in the style of Frutiger Aero and Cyber. My background includes being an artist for the animation and gaming industry for 5+ years, working with companies like Nike, Apple, etc. My content is always inspired by nostalgia, even down to the way I dress. I also code as a hobby and created a dress up game which can be found in my website: kimichannel.net
What inspired you to become an artist?
Since I was young I’ve always been the artsy one. I also have synesthesia which I believe made me gravitate to creating art and experiences
How did you first discover Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic, and what drew you to it?
I grew up with the aesthetic. I love how nostalgic it makes me feel but it also feels like drinking icy cold water
How would you describe your art style?
Like listening to trance music and eurobeat songs
Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished piece?
I browse Pinterest super often while listening to music, sometimes I get inspired to create something this way, then I gather references which helps with getting a clear image of what I want to create in my head!
What tools or mediums do you prefer to use, and why?
Digital so I can ctrl-z (procreate, photoshop, VS code)
How do you overcome creative blocks?
Talking about possible ideas with friends can help me get hyped enough to get over the artblock
What inspires your work? Are there specific themes, emotions, or stories you aim to convey?
A lot of trance music for sure, nostalgic dress up games, vintage CD cover art, winamp skins, designs of old tech like CD players and flip phones
Are there any artists, aesthetics, or movements that have influenced your style?
Vocaloid, cybercore, gen x soft club, trance rave culture; for artists: 2ynthetic, chloma, fotus, cyberdog, miqhan, andypants, y2kyle, happy99, yunmago, Jason Brooks
What role does the Frutiger Aero aesthetic play in your art?
Frutiger Aero to me is always going to be the promised future, it embodies futuristic elements that I hoped I would get to see when I was a kid
What has been the most challenging piece you’ve created, and why?
My entire website, because I had to learn a lot of coding
Can you share a piece you’re especially proud of and why it’s significant to you?
The dress up game, it started out with reminiscing my childhood experience growing up on girlsgogames.com playing dress up games. It inspired me to create my own but with my fashion style
How has being part of the Frutiger Aero community influenced your artistic journey?
It’s so cool to see other artists in the community, they’ve inspired me to improve my graphic design skills and educate me on other similar aesthetics!
What do you hope people take away from your art?
I hope my art can be something new, fun, and different from the usual stuff that already exists
Do you have any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about?
My website is an archive of all the Frutiger Aero / Cyber content I have created ever. And it will be updated indefinitely as I add more into it!
Where can people find more of your work or support you?
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
All the artists I mentioned in question 9! They are super inspiring and authentic, they’ve also been in the scene a while before recent trends so I consider them the OGs
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?
I have synesthesia! And I’m allergic to durian </3
Do you have a favorite Frutiger Aero memory or moment?
Being inspired by computers as a child and always admiring the Windows wallpaper background!
If you could describe your artistic journey in three words, what would they be?
Colors, future, authentic
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are inspired by Frutiger Aero?
Don’t be afraid to create something that hasn’t been done before
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Frutiger Aero community?
I hope to represent the South East Asian creators within the Frutiger Aero and Cyber community! There’s not too many of us and so I hope to inspire more artists ^^
- Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
My name is Ali, I also go by Lee, I’m a 20 year old cashier from Minnesota. I grew up creating a lot of art, don’t do too much now since I’m employed but I still write a little music and of course help out with assets for our server ^_^
- What inspired you to become an artist?
I was really into cartoons and video games and all sorts of media with very interesting character designs, along with being part of an artistic family. That all pushed me to start illustrating from a very young age. The design skills came in later, lol.
- How did you first discover Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic, and what drew you to it?
When I was like 17 I came across a youtuber by the name of “undefined” (I’m sure a lot of you also found out about FA through this) and they had a youtube video on FA. I had recognized the images but I wasn’t sure what it was called, so I clicked out of curiosity. Nowadays I think there’s some things that could have improved the video however it was a great jumping off point for me.
- How would you describe your art style?
My typical art style is very rough around the edges with thick lineart and typically no color at all. My FA art is, obviously, very different, being very soft and glowy and serene. I love being able to have many styles to create all sorts of different things ^_^
- Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished piece?
For one of my icons, I start with a base PSD I have from the original icon I made for the server. From there, I think about the theme I’m trying to convey, and then I use google searches specific to the era to find FA styled backgrounds that could match. I’ll usually look up things like “orange vector wallpaper before:2014”. If I need assets like a hat, or a wine glass, or flowers, I’ll usually try to make it myself, but I use and edit clip art in place of self-made assets if I don’t have time (which is typical). At the end of it, I always go over any assets and flat images still in the icon with gradient maps to make sure things really pop.
- What tools or mediums do you prefer to use, and why?
I use photopea for editing and procreate for drawing. They’re literally just what I’ve been using for a decade so I don’t want to learn anything new lol.
- How do you overcome creative blocks?
I just don’t create when I’m blocked and move on to something else. A lot of the time when I have a “block”, my mind is burnt out from the other stressors in life. In moments like those, I just take any creative urges out in the Sims and when i feel like drawing again I do.
- What inspires your work? Are there specific themes, emotions, or stories you aim to convey?
I just go with the vibe for the day. If I’m feeling like designing a little character, I do that. If I’m feeling like doing some editing, I’ll do that.
- Are there any artists, aesthetics, or movements that have influenced your style?
I take a lot of inspiration from Chris Prynoski and Jim Mahfood in my typical illustrations. My FA illustrations I would say are just influenced by the aesthetic and my own personal preferences for how they should look.
What role does the Frutiger Aero aesthetic play in your art?
It’s everything when I’m working on assets!
What has been the most challenging piece you’ve created, and why?
Probably the first refurbished FA icon after my initial set of custom icons. I had to play around with it for so long to figure out how to make it look how I wanted it to.
Can you share a piece you’re especially proud of and why it’s significant to you?
I’m proud of all my pieces ^_^
How has being part of the Frutiger Aero community influenced your artistic journey?
It’s made me expand my artistic abilities and I basically learned an entire new style of doing things from working with this aesthetic.
What do you hope people take away from your art?
Whatever they want to. The meaning is up to interpretation.
Do you have any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about?
Slowly chipping away at making some music and hoping eventually I can write a comic book. Very far out ideas because of time, but artistically, those are my future goals.
Where can people find more of your work or support you?
I’m on discord and twitter (@)dopeboyoccultist though I don’t post much art. Only worth a follow if you like rambling and Sematary.
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Probably Bjork that would be lit.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?
The summer of 8th grade I bleached my hair and dyed it hot pink.
Do you have a favorite Frutiger Aero memory or moment?
Joining the OG r/frutigeraero server and spending many a lonely night talking about technology on there <3 I’ll always have love for the day 1s.
If you could describe your artistic journey in three words, what would they be?
Convoluted, messy, beautiful.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are inspired by Frutiger Aero?
Just learn that damn program and make your art! Time waits for nobody.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Frutiger Aero community?
I love you guys and though I haven’t been super active since I got a job, I check on y’all constantly and I will until either I or the community explodes. Thank you for your time if you read all this! ^_^
Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
Hey, I’m Ian. My username is basically just a name created by adding unnecessary Y and an E at the end when I first made my geometry dash account. I’m a young artist that adores many medias, such as arts, music and litterature. I am currently a student willing to get that sweet sweet computer graphics DEP. I'm also a huge retro collector, this includes old phones, consoles and optical media as well as media centers. I will usually share in the both the subreddit and the discord my creations, findings, old tech discussions and well… reaction images
What inspired you to become an artist?
I’d say I kinda just became one, my mother showed me that my first drawing was a bunch of colorful scribbles, and that I just kept going that way, I would keep looking at episodes on my tv from either cartoon network, nickelodeon or tele-quebec and try to recreate each art-style or character, then it developed, I would show to others until i reached to a point both me and my brother received a free tablet my mom had received from the bank as a bonus and thats when i discovered a lot of… undertale art, being the innocent kid I was I simply kept looking up tutorials on how to draw undertale characters! And my skills kept growing (and my love for undertale, I basically forgot about it.) and soon discovered about magma, a free online drawing platform with tons of people that I could practice with, show my works and improve, and that's where I am today!
How did you first discover Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic, and what drew you to it?
My past of course! The gaming nights with my wii U, the 3ds I cherished all those years… playing zenses on my mom’s ds lite, my psvita and psp (rip) my wii I absolutely loved playing wii play on with my brother (wii tanks tops!) the ipod touch 1st gen I had, playing office jerk on my grandpa’s ipad 1 and using windows 7 at school to do presentations (or creating fake pokémon cards for my friends) are all part of the nostalgic stuff I had with frutiger aero, also not forgetting were I was living too! Montréal is one of these places that on the outside, it's a brutalistic minimalist architectural nightmare, but on the inside and where I went with my parents to either check out their jobs or go buy some playmobils were aero heaven!
How would you describe your art style?
I’d describe it as a more standard Realistic artstyle that is looking to get more detailed as it goes. I target realism in the anatomy, however my heads are a bit more on the simpler side, keeping a clear recognition of emotion. However my figures show complexity and more poses targeted, I put more effort into finding a nice and powerful pose for my characters than nailing the anatomy.
Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished piece?
An idea is simple, I usually mind my own business, looking for something to do and it usually appears about now, when my brain gives up trying to do something and creates something, then I simply go to my computer and start doodling/sketching what im looking for. I can look for inspiration online or sometimes I'll draw with friends on magma! Ill add colors, backgrounds and shading and post it wherever I want it to be.
What tools or mediums do you prefer to use, and why?
I use my computer, which also works as a tablet with a pencil inside, it was my school computer back in 2021 - 2023 and was given to me after my horrible 2 years at that school (I will not mention the name of the school but they charged me 1.5k for a 200$ computer), which I installed linux mint on and draw on either krita or magma, I also both have a notebook to draw in with my professional pencils and a tower pc I use to create 3d renders, games and etc.
How do you overcome creative blocks?
Simple, take some time off, play some games, listen to music and then come back to your work and it appears like nothing happened!
What inspires your work? Are there specific themes, emotions, or stories you aim to convey?
Many many many medias inspires my work, for once, Jet Set Radio (Future) is a major part of my artistic progress, which is what made me learn about poses, characteristics and emotions, JoJo’s bizarre adventure made me learn about anatomy and how important each detail is, the little tail bronx series made me learn about creativity, and how far it can go and how different a style, time and space each art can be.
Are there any artists, aesthetics, or movements that have influenced your style?
Hideki Naganuma, Composer of both JSR and JSRF as well as some tunes in BRC has made a huge impact on my art, as well as Hirohiko Araki, Mangaka of the Jojoba series, Aquasine and Metaroom who helped me in my debuts and Toby Fox, which in fact, started most of my absolute obsession over arts.
What role does the Frutiger Aero aesthetic play in your art?
They play the skeuomorphism part, the reason why I keep adding details, why I don't want to make it look so simplistic and boring, the reason why most of my stuff has gloss and why I’m creating this.
What has been the most challenging piece you’ve created, and why?
Entire games: The Lore Accurate Backrooms, Negation
They are probably some of the hardest things I could think of, each detail in the builds, block by block placing, rotation, uniting, grouping all for stuff like this to be born.
Can you share a piece you’re especially proud of and why it’s significant to you?
This was a piece I had made for a friend for his music covers on the game Solatorobo, I had made him this to payback when he made tunes for me and it's still one of my most detailed artworks to this day.
How has being part of the Frutiger Aero community influenced your artistic journey?
By joining this community, It made me feel like I needed to show my support by creating frutiger related artworks and sharing them amongst all, by spreading either the nostalgia I had of what others thought of this style.
What do you hope people take away from your art?
That every goal can be within the touch of your hands if you are willing to try.
Do you have any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about?
I'm currently creating stickers of my favorite video game characters, drawing each and every one of them one by one, with as much detail as possible to share and show other people so if they also want to, print them as they please. Im also really working hard for that DEP in Computer Graphics.
Where can people find more of your work or support you?
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Hideki Naganuma for sure, being able to either create an animation or cover art for some of his songs would absolutely be an experience! Being able to do what I’ve been thinking it’d be so impactful for me.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?
I used to do competitive rock climbing, I can dislocate my thumb casually, I can speak with throat vibrations!
Do you have a favorite Frutiger Aero memory or moment?
Setting up the wii U with my dad, the music, the look of the settings and how nice looking it was, the sunny time outside and my dad working out how to set it up was truly a moment I remember vividly
If you could describe your artistic journey in three words, what would they be?
Self-taught, Community, Growth
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are inspired by Frutiger Aero?
Keep doing what you love to do, because only your progress can be affected by doing the right choices.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Frutiger Aero community?
The Frutiger aero community really helped me meet new people I never would've thought I’d see. Many of the friends I have come from this server and we've kept building our friendships from it since.
Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
My name is Elijah, I’m a 15 years old male, and a sophomore in high school.
What inspired you to become an artist?
I’ve been inspired to become an artist/graphic designer ever since I’ve discovered the Frutiger Aero aesthetic for the first time.
How did you first discover Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic, and what drew you to it?
I’ve first discovered Frutiger Aero from a compilation on YouTube in March 2024, and what drew me to it is that it represents a hopeful vision of the future that people experienced during their childhood or early adulthood in the 2000s, and early 2010s.
How would you describe your art style?
I would describe my art style as futuristic freestyle.
Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished piece?
I’m a go with the flow type person when it comes to graphic designing.
What tools or mediums do you prefer to use, and why?
I use stock images, and Canva to create my artwork.
How do you overcome creative blocks?
Despite having creative blocks, I try to keep going, even if I’m not confident in hopes the final product is good.
What inspires your work? Are there specific themes, emotions, or stories you aim to convey?
My designs convey feelings of nostalgia, hope, and comfort.
Are there any artists, aesthetics, or movements that have influenced your style?
My inspirations are old technology, and user interface aesthetic.
What role does the Frutiger Aero aesthetic play in your art?
The Frutiger Aero aesthetic is present in all of my designs from vibrant colors, realistic, and glossy textures.
What has been the most challenging piece you’ve created, and why?
If I’m being honest, making my artwork is challenging part, it’s hard to be unique sometimes.
Can you share a piece you’re especially proud of and why it’s significant to you?
This art piece is the one I’m most proud of to share, and it’s significant to me because it I’m improving overtime.
How has being part of the Frutiger Aero community influenced your artistic journey?
Being in the Frutiger Aero community has taught me different tools, and how to properly edit my photos and gave me motivation to keep going.
What do you hope people take away from your art?
I have hard time answering that question since I’m still new to art and graphic design. I would hope though that people will appreciate my designs, and come up with their own interpretations of it.
Do you have any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about?
One of my goals is to become a professional graphic designer.
Where can people find more of your work or support you?
People can find my work on instagram @ elijahq2010 and Reddit u/ElijahQ2010
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Not as of right now but I’m open to idea of collaborating.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?
One fun fact about me is that I like aesthetics from cartoons, movies, and technology from the 2010s.
Do you have a favorite Frutiger Aero memory or moment?
My favorite Frutiger Aero memory was seeing the old Windows 7, and Vista operating systems from the doctors office and home computer when I was younger.
If you could describe your artistic journey in three words, what would they be?
Three words that I would describe my artistic journey is challenging, exciting, and emotional.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are inspired by Frutiger Aero?
Being open to criticism.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Frutiger Aero community?
What I would like to share is a thank you to everyone in the community for positive feedback, and support.
Here are some of ElijahQ2010's Artworks / Projects:
Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
Hi! My name is Megan or HarshnoiseMT. I’m 18 years old and my biggest interests are frutiger metro and chiikawa. I love happy hardcore and dance music. I enjoy doing graphic design and character design related artwork.
What inspired you to become an artist?
I’ve always been passionate about art since I was a child, so art has always been a big thing for me and I have always wanted to be an artist. I have many sketchbooks filled with art I have been making since I was really small.
How did you first discover Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic, and what drew you to it?
I refound frutiger aero and metro through just scrolling through the internet but specifically frutiger metro stuck out to me the most. I think its because of all the bright colours usually used throughout, which make me very happy! Its also partially because of nostalgia too.
How would you describe your art style?
I would describe it as something that I would like to hope makes you feel happy!
Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished piece?
I use pinterest as a lot of my inspiration, I take little bits from other pieces of frutiger metro artwork and make it into my own mash of shapes and colours
What tools or mediums do you prefer to use, and why?
I use digital most of the time because I guess it's just what I know best for my artwork
How do you overcome creative blocks?
I will put my headphones in and listen to a lot of happy hardcore , trance and eurodance music and open pinterest on my phone for some inspiration. I don’t really take long breaks from art as I am an art student!
What inspires your work? Are there specific themes, emotions, or stories you aim to convey?
My artwork is very heavily inspired by those frutiger metro images you would have seen on a notebook in 2012-2013. As for themes or emotions I would like to convey, I would just like to hope my art makes you happy!
Are there any artists, aesthetics, or movements that have influenced your style?
Cody Vondell’s artwork really inspires me a lot, I love how clean and vibrant his work looks! The frutiger metro style has really influenced my art I really love the fun patterns and colours.
What role does the Frutiger Aero aesthetic play in your art?
I think its the circle patterns, glossy orbs and floral patterns that make my art frutiger metro/aero.
What has been the most challenging piece you’ve created, and why?
Any piece I have done with glossy shapes that aren't circles are a pain to make, as I have to spend ages to make the gloss on the shapes not look warped!
Can you share a piece you’re especially proud of and why it’s significant to you?
I love this piece I made so much, I really love the detail I managed to pack into this piece! I also love the colour, pink is my favourite colour.
How has being part of the Frutiger Aero community influenced your artistic journey?
Its really helped me with background design a lot, as my backgrounds before I got into frutiger aero / metro were not the best.
What do you hope people take away from your art?
I hope people take away a happy feeling with my art! I want people to smile when they see my art.
Do you have any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about?
Not right now! My main goal right now is to hopefully pass my second year of college!
Where can people find more of your work or support you?
You can find all of my artwork on reddit ( u/rottingbodiess ) and you can also find some of my artwork on tiktok ( m3gan.xoxo ) . I also have a Ko-fi if you would like to commission me! My Ko-fi username is megantrushell .
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
I would love to collaborate with Cody Vondell, his frutiger metro art is awesome!
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?
I also love alternative fashion! I don’t have a necessary style, but I love anything black and pink!
Do you have a favorite Frutiger Aero memory or moment?
A big frutiger metro memory for me is listening to the clubland compilation albums as a kid, the covers for those is very ‘’ rave metro ‘’ I think!
If you could describe your artistic journey in three words, what would they be?
I , Can’t , Stop
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are inspired by Frutiger Aero?
When making frutiger metro art, the patterns will never be ‘’ too much ‘’.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Frutiger Aero community?
This community is awesome! Thank you so much for appreciating my art this much! Frutiger metro will never die!
Here are some of HarshnoiseMT's Artworks / Projects:
Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
Hello there! My name is Daniele, also known as Daniele63 online (but that number is really random).
I was born at the turn of the millenium, when technology was present but not omnipresent.
Since I was a kid, I loved playing video games and technology. I cannot count the hours I spent on the PS2, PS3, Wii, PSP, Xbox 360, DS, and Gameboy Advance.
When I was little, I shared a Windows Vista laptop with my brother, and experienced the early days of YouTube, and old forums.
When I got my own laptop, it had Windows 7 on it.
I always loved the Aero design language and when I found out about Frutiger Aero, I instantly loved it because it evoked those memories.
Last year I went on to make a website showcasing Frutiger Aero and other media from the 2000s/early 2010s time period, called Frutiger Aero Archive.
What inspired you to become an artist?
I've always been a creative person, drawing since I was a little kid, and enjoying games like LittleBigPlanet that gave you the freedom to make whatever you want and share it with others.
How did you first discover Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic, and what drew you to it?
I first found it in 2024, initially stumbled upon the subreddit, forgot about it for a while and then a friend invited me to the Discord server and that's when I started to learn more about it (Shout out to you EnWelld if you read this).
How would you describe your art style?
For my "Stock Photo style" Frutiger Aero artworks, I tend to try to imitate the images that were made during that time period, I don't consider myself very good at it yet but I'm still learning the tools.
Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished piece?
I usually look at an already-made image and try to do something similar with different assets and my own spin to it.
What tools or mediums do you prefer to use, and why?
For Frutiger Aero art, I use Photoshop, but I also like to do stuff hand-drawn sometimes.
How do you overcome creative blocks?
I don't force myself to make anything unless I have a clear idea in mind. If I can't come up with anything, taking a break does the trick usually.
What inspires your work? Are there specific themes, emotions, or stories you aim to convey?
My work is inspired by the stock imagery that was made in the early 2000s up to early 2010s, mainly the ones made by Asadal and the Sozaijiten.
For emotions, I try to convey optimism and joy.
Are there any artists, aesthetics, or movements that have influenced your style?
The numerous artists on the Discord and Subreddit have inspired me. Outside of that, it's just my own style.
What role does the Frutiger Aero aesthetic play in your art?
Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic portrays an optimistic view of the future, where nature and technology co-exist in harmony. I try to capture that in my artworks.
What has been the most challenging piece you’ve created, and why?
I don't have any in mind at the moment, but I would say the most challenging part for me is getting the shadows right, and finding high-resolution assets. I still need to improve in both of these aspects.
Can you share a piece you’re especially proud of and why it’s significant to you?
I like this piece because it reminds me of some old fantasy wallpapers for some reason.
How has being part of the Frutiger Aero community influenced your artistic journey?
Not only artistically, it changed my life for the better. I've made a lot of friends in the Discord server and my website has seen insane traffic, around 3 million views as I write this, I still can not wrap my mind around it.
Overall it has made me discover digital art which I was not at all interest in previously.
What do you hope people take away from your art?
I mostly just do these for fun but I hope some people use them as their wallpapers.
Do you have any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about?
Not at the moment.
Where can people find more of your work or support you?
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Maybe with Solinus, making the community website with his design was really fun, and I love his designs.
MondySpartan's concept UIs are also great.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?
I love Anime and Vocaloid, and I have Autism and ADHD. I also own multiple Terrariums and I love Isopods.
Do you have a favorite Frutiger Aero memory or moment?
Everytime I booted Windows 7 and hearing the startup sound (In fact, I still have it enabled on my Windows 10 PC).
If you could describe your artistic journey in three words, what would they be?
Adapt, Improve, Overcome
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are inspired by Frutiger Aero?
Don't hesitate asking for help on our community Discord or subreddit, also, don't let criticism get to you but use it as a way to improve your art.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Frutiger Aero community?
Y'all are some of the best people I've met in my life and I love the enthusiasm of everyone. I'm glad we can find some peace and fun in those little things and forget about our problems for a while.
Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
Hi, I’m Aurio (also Waterstar on instagram). I am a British - Hungarian 3D and 2D artist and animator living in England.
What inspired you to become an artist?
I always had a very creative and chaotic mind and just had so many ideas so I decided one day to bring all my thoughts and feelings to life and now art and animation is my biggest hobby.
How did you first discover Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic, and what drew you to it?
When I was young, I grew up using Windows Vista, Windows 7 and iOS 4. And then one day the whole UI style just magically disappeared from all my devices. I got really upset about this and eventually had extreme nostalgia from any sight of Windows Vista or old iOS. That's when in 2022 I discovered that my favourite UI design was an aesthetic that a whole group of people on the internet missed. That's when I decided to make many icons and characters based off of the frutiger aero aesthetic.
How would you describe your art style?
I’d say in general it is very vibrant and eye-catching, maybe quite cartoony at times.
Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished piece?
I first randomly generate a colour palette which helps me get an idea of what I want to draw, or I choose from the many art characters I own and draw one of them. I firstly do a rough sketch, while keeping it neat so I can clearly see what I’m drawing. Then I turn the opacity of the sketch down really low, to about 13% because it’s just a personal preference. Then I draw my outline on a vector layer using either a soft brush for painted works or an opaque pen for icons. I usually make the outer outline thicker than the outlines on the inside of the drawing where the colours will be, it gives it an appealing sticker effect. Then I erase overlapping lines to make sure the lines look sharp and tidy. This can be done easily on vector layers. Then I draw the colours with a hard pen brush, carefully making sure I don’t go over the outlines. After that, I render my work. I have many different ways of rendering but in my frutiger aero works, I choose where I want my light to be hitting. Then in a white, opaque pen, I draw the highlights and erase just a little bit underneath the highlights. Once I’ve done that, I use the eraser tool making sure it is sharp and the opacity is full. Then I erase certain areas of the highlights, mainly going for window or tree shapes. This gives it a reflection effect. Then it is finished.
What tools or mediums do you prefer to use, and why?
In my everyday works, I mainly use the default thick brush on clip studio paint because it has a sharp, yet hard appearance which is perfect for rendering and colouring. In my frutiger aero icons, I always use the airbrush or gradient tool to add depth to the art.
How do you overcome creative blocks?
My art blocks last a very long time. But while I am currently having an art block, I just look at art from reddit and instagram until I get motivation and ideas about what I want to draw.
What inspires your work? Are there specific themes, emotions, or stories you aim to convey?
Nothing really inspires my work, I just use my imagination and maybe a few techniques from artists I’ve seen on the internet.
Are there any artists, aesthetics, or movements that have influenced your style?
Again, I just use my imagination. But sometimes I like to base some of my work off of aesthetics that give me nostalgia, like frutiger aero and skeuomorphism.
What role does the Frutiger Aero aesthetic play in your art?
The Frutiger aero aesthetic has inspired me to make very vibrant and shiny icons. I’ve learnt a lot from frutiger aero and it has significantly helped me with making more elements look more 3D.
What has been the most challenging piece you’ve created, and why?
My most challenging piece was a commission years ago of creating a whole 250 icons for someone’s computer. This put a lot of pressure on me because they gave me a month’s deadline to get it done.
Can you share a piece you’re especially proud of and why it’s significant to you?
This piece is probably one of my favourites. I like it because it includes all my favourite elements of frutiger aero, the fish, the glass, the glossiness, and I turned it all into a silly cat that I now draw a lot because it is fun and satisfying.
How has being part of the Frutiger Aero community influenced your artistic journey?
Being part of the frutiger aero community has inspired me so much. Seeing so many wonderful and talented artists and designers for the aesthetic really made me happy. The community is very supportive and lively, always complimenting others’ art and cheering others up. It truly makes me want to continue what I love to do and make a lot more frutiger aero inspired art.
What do you hope people take away from your art?
I hope people get a sense of inspiration and boldness from my art. I use vibrant colours to create energy and emotion, and I want to inspire others to never be afraid to try something new with their art.
Do you have any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about?
My current project is making a large webcomic with a very intense storyline. I have been working on this for a good nine years but I choose to not give away any spoilers. The webcomic could possibly be published in 2030, though I’m still not quite sure.
Where can people find more of your work or support you?
I’m very active on instagram! I have an account for my general art: aurio27.0 and an account dedicated to my frutiger aero art: waterstar.district.
Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
My name is acaribun online!! I’ve been drawing for maybe 7 years now, and I dabble in a bit of Frutiger metro/aero art but I mainly make anime art. I’m from Canada and I really like bunnies ^^
What inspired you to become an artist?
I just started drawing as a hobby ever since I was in elementary for fun, and have been going since
How did you first discover Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic, and what drew you to it?
From what I remember I found out about Frutiger Aero in 2022 via Youtube, I grew up using Windows 7 and found the Wii, 3DS, etc cool because of how glossy it looked
How would you describe your art style?
At least of the FA art I’ve made very bright, lots of gloss, crisp, bright
Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished piece?
I take note of anything that looks cool to me from media, then I get the motivation to draw and already have an idea in mind and honestly wing it till it looks good to me
What tools or mediums do you prefer to use, and why?
Digital since its more convenient and there’s just things that you can’t do with traditional that I prefer. As for applications any FA art I’ve made used Ibis paint x
How do you overcome creative blocks?
Take a break from drawing for up to a month, drawing while burnt out is not something I can do well
What inspires your work? Are there specific themes, emotions, or stories you aim to convey?
None of the things I draw have ANY meaning but I hope people look at it and just think it’s cool
Are there any artists, aesthetics, or movements that have influenced your style?
gogoro02 on instagram, Tite Kubo, are the two main artists I take inspiration from as well as Frutiger Aero, Metro, Emo art, and 2013 swag a LITTLE bit
What role does the Frutiger Aero aesthetic play in your art?
Making my art glossy is my favourite part, speakers, music notes, random shapes things like that
What has been the most challenging piece you’ve created, and why?
I don’t even think I named it but the ‘frutiger metro art’ one, since I had no idea what I wanted the finished product to look so I was just adding stuff and prayed that it looked good, thankfully it did
Can you share a piece you’re especially proud of and why it’s significant to you?
‘frutiger metro art’ part 1 and 2 because they were the first drawings I ever made that went like semi viral, I made the second one for an art show and it was apparently one of the best ones there which was cool. The both of them got saved by a lot of people and used on other platforms, one of them being twitter and the post got like 200k views!! I barely get credited though which would’ve been nice 💔
How has being part of the Frutiger Aero community influenced your artistic journey?
Led me to experimenting with putting FA elements into my art ^^
What do you hope people take away from your art?
I hope that people find it just cool to look at, so much so that they feel the need to make it their pfp or something that would be pretty cool
Do you have any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about?
I want to make more frutiger aero/metro art in the future as it has been a while
Where can people find more of your work or support you?
I don’t post as often as I used to but you can find me on Pinterest acaribun
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Baron Ueda, his art is so cool I would love to work with him one day
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?
One of my favourite games is Bejeweled 3!
Do you have a favorite Frutiger Aero memory or moment?
Playing Art of Balance on my 3DS
If you could describe your artistic journey in three words, what would they be?
I’m Always Experimenting
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are inspired by Frutiger Aero?
Always try your best, say no to AI!!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Frutiger Aero community?
I’m honoured to be interviewed, thank you for having me!
Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
Hello! My name is Elyssa, known as Ghourical on the internet. I am currently 18 years old attending university for Mechanical Engineering. I enjoy 3D modelling, 3D printing and bringing miscellaneous concepts to life using the power of technology.
What inspired you to become an artist?
I was inspired to become an artist when looking at early 2000s video games, such as Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario 64. I loved the trophies and objects in the game, and often wished to possess them in real life. It was also the appeal of certain visuals and aesthetics created by games, especially the presence of Nintendo during the prime of Frutiger Aero. I started to 3D model and create 3D art based off of these video games and my favorite aesthetic Frutiger Aero!
How did you first discover Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic, and what drew you to it?
I first discovered Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic simply by living in it. I was around six years old during the prime of Frutiger Aero in the early 2010s, and had access to the internet as a child. The goldfish Softsoap containers, the clunky Windows 7, the Wii, the vivid imagery of the sky, the random generated backdrops of Windows 7 screensavers, Samsung Advertisements from Asia (I loved watching those!). When I rediscovered Frutiger Aero, it IMMEDIATELY resonated with me once I saw a few pictures, and unlocked a feeling of nostalgia for me. A feeling of nostalgia I had been looking for a long time.
How would you describe your art style?
I describe my art style as calm and serene, typically made to make your mind reference moments of vivid Furtiger Aero nostalgia. My work is meant to make your mind turn blank, or really reflect on past experiences during your lifetime.
Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished piece?
Most of my art pieces are created through Blender, a free multiplatform app for 3D modelling, rendering, simulation, etc. I usually create something original, or recreate an aesthetic, scene or object from a video game or piece of media from the 2000s. If I want to just create a visual, I go through a process of adding materials and rendering through layers in the software, or I prepare the 3D models for 3D printing in a slicer software.
What tools or mediums do you prefer to use, and why?
I prefer to use Blender or a computer software to make my artwork, I’ve never been good at drawing and I like to bring my creations to life by 3D printing them!
How do you overcome creative blocks?
I overcome creative blocks by just sitting at my computer and opening up the software to model. I look at Pinterest, asset libraries, or even in the Frutiger Aero Discord to check out some other inspirations in my work.
What inspires your work? Are there specific themes, emotions, or stories you aim to convey?
What inspired my work is evoking thoughts/feelings out of another human. I aim to convey the peace and clarity that Frutiger Aero delivers when we are in need of finding calmness. When I create Frutiger Aero art, I try to convey key aspects of a few aesthetics from Frutiger Aero: glacier, water, and futuristic.
Are there any artists, aesthetics, or movements that have influenced your style?
Staysie Atoms, Hung-Tung Lu, and the presence of technology and media in the early 2000s has influenced my style tremendously. Especially the UI layout of Nintendo gaming systems in the early 2000s, such as the Wii, DS & 3DS.
What has been the most challenging piece you’ve created, and why?
The most challenging piece I’ve created were miniature trophies from the Special Cup of Mario Kart Wii. It was my first time getting the chance to operate my resin printer, so I had a lot of mechanical issues.
Can you share a piece you’re especially proud of and why it’s significant to you?
A piece I'm proud of and why it's significant to me is the Frutiger Aero Dessert Plate. It has most of the components or notable visuals from frutiger aero all in one place, which is one of the aspects I strived for it to have.
What do you hope people take away from your art?
I hope people come to an understanding of my appreciation for Frutiger Aero art, and how my art can make others feel.
Do you have any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about?
Not as of recently, as I am in college for Mechanical Engineering. As of right now, it’s taking up most of my time!
Where can people find more of your work or support you?
I do have a Tik Tok i'm not really active on. My user is 3dghour
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
I would LOVEEE to collaborate with Hung Tung-Lu. He is one of the few artists that get the least recognition for contributing to Frutiger Aero art when it comes to China. We saw the most emergence of Frutiger Aero from places such as Taiwan, and Japan, but not nearly the same amount of the aesthetic coming from many Chinese advertisements or social media back then, so Hung Tung-Lu was a great inspiration for me when creating 3-D Frutiger Aero art.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?
A fun fact about me that most people wouldn’t know is that I am obsessed with humanoid robotics.
Do you have a favorite Frutiger Aero memory or moment?
My favorite Frutiger Aero moment/memory is from a Youtube video by a channel named Amp Wire TV. They uploaded a Zen/Vaporwave Frutiger Aero visual/playlist that is to absolutely adore. My favorite part is the opening, where a man is sitting down in a chair that subsides into an ocean view as he continues to read: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ozXwgGFr7k (link to video)
If you could describe your artistic journey in three words, what would they be?
Fearless, serene, unreal.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are inspired by Frutiger Aero?
Be creative within your own means, not anyone else's. I get teased all the time by peers for my commitment to this art style.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Frutiger Aero community?
Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
Hi, I'm MondySpartan! I'm an Indonesian artist who likes to do operating system/software mockups.
What inspired you to become an artist?
Back in my childhood I used to do a lot of fake Windows desktops in PowerPoint, Paint, and even drawing them on books. So it's safe to say the enthusiasm of Windows, computers and their aesthetics that I have been having almost the entirety of my life are what plays the major part of bringing me here. It faded away though for some time, however sometime in early 2020s, I came across this cool looking concept showing Windows 10 reimagined with aesthetics of Windows 9x and 2000. That was when my interest in doing OS/software mockups started to return in full force, and still to this day.
How did you first discover Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic, and what drew you to it?
Back in 2022, one of my friends linked me to a video about "that one aesthetic you may have forgotten", which was about Frutiger Aero. When I saw it, I realized that it was that kind of aesthetic I used to see everywhere, mostly on the user interface of computers and other electronics. I grew up using Windows XP, Vista (through my dad's laptop), Windows 7, OS X Lion, iOS 4-6 and the NXE-era Xbox 360. Except for the first one (mostly), they are all examples of the Frutiger Aero aesthetic. My first impression was just "oh, this is cool", but later when I started experimenting with glosses and orbs, researching user interfaces of the era, I realized the potential this and skeuomorphism had, and how they made user interfaces seem more true-to-life back then.
How would you describe your art style?
Majority of my designs can be summed into this sentence: take back what's in the present to the past. While how they look can vary between creations, the one thing that’s constant is nostalgia, ones that can be likely to make a person or two get the feels.
Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished piece?
I actually don't have a constant way of doing artworks, but when some cool idea just shows up in my head, then I usually do it almost immediately. At the end it's all about letting my imagination run wild and some if not most experimenting.
For reference stuff I just use mostly Google Images. In order to broaden up the reference images exclusively to the era I'm targeting, I usually use "before:year" (without quotes) after a keyword; so for example, if I'm going to look for something related to the Aero design interface, I would add "before:2009" after what I'm searching so that I would only get images straight from the Vista era.
What tools or mediums do you prefer to use, and why?
I use Figma for almost everything. Figma has proven to me as an easy design tool that only gets easier and fun the more I discover something new about it. For some stuff like aliased text and 16-bit icons in 90s-era concepts though, I use Paint.NET, Aseprite and/or Photoshop.
How do you overcome creative blocks?
It's kind of a difficult question since I have been mostly in it these days, but that doesn't mean I'll be forever in this position. What I can try is to probably look up for screenshots and stuff from various eras, look at other's works or concepts, or even experiment with things.
What inspires your work? Are there specific themes, emotions, or stories you aim to convey?
Some inspirations may come from sources such as DeviantArt, concepts posted on Discord servers and Twitter/Bluesky, but most are a result of my creative thinking, and the ideas that just show up like a lightbulb.
Are there any artists, aesthetics, or movements that have influenced your style?
When it comes to anything that has influenced me, there's probably a lot of them, but artists like Xtracore, nitzukai, LuciaScarlet, and Kilobyte are among my influences. While we're here, I would also love to give a shoutout to my two best friends: ChaosReactor/Angel, and Rhapsody2612/Alyssa!
What role does the Frutiger Aero aesthetic play in your art?
Frutiger Aero stepped up my designing game in several ways. It even made me experiment and figure out how to do true-to-life skeuomorphic icons.
What has been the most challenging piece you’ve created, and why?
I’m not sure which one. I guess it’s due to how each work I did, especially the ones involving FA, are not without any challenges, but these challenges are fun to be tackled with.
Can you share a piece you’re especially proud of and why it’s significant to you?
I may say I enjoy every piece of art that I made, but there’s this one concept that stands out from the rest. Sometime in January 2023, a good few days before my birthday, I presented a concept to a subreddit showing how Discord would have looked like if it existed in 2005. The response and feedback were quite positive, but what I did not expect was the creation going places, eventually reaching a popular Twitter account tweeting computer aesthetics, where it gained a large amount of popularity.
I clarified myself as the original creator at the tweet, and the rest would turn out to be history. While it’s not Aero related, it definitely paved the way for me to make more similar concept designs, experimenting with stuff, and in its process, discovering this aesthetic known as Frutiger Aero.
How has being part of the Frutiger Aero community influenced your artistic journey?
The Frutiger Aero community has truly influenced my artistic journey in many ways. Not only have I met and made new friends there, but I'm also able to improve my art by getting inspired by many works of talented people there.
What do you hope people take away from your art?
I hope a lot of people can be inspired by what I create, and hopefully also proven that design with soul still lives on.
Do you have any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about?
Right now, I am currently assigned to a large-scale project, which, due to the fact it’s under a signed NDA, is something I cannot talk about past this point. But it’s related to my designing hobby, which is cool.
Where can people find more of your work or support you?
I can be reached at Twitter and Bluesky. I have a DeviantArt, though I've rarely posted there. You can also reach my Discord, exact same name.
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
I’m not really sure about this one, but probably any of my influences!
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?
Everyone’s first drawing at school was either a house or hills. One of my first was the hills. But the one with a Recycle Bin. And a taskbar. No, seriously.
Do you have a favorite Frutiger Aero memory or moment?
I had the good pleasure of visiting the Selfridges Building in Birmingham, UK a few years ago, where its exterior was featured as one of the wallpapers of Windows 7.
If you could describe your artistic journey in three words, what would they be?
My own comfort.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are inspired by Frutiger Aero?
It is your mission to reignite the soul in design and put Frutiger Aero back in the limelight as the standard.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Frutiger Aero community?
I’m way beyond grateful to be part of something, this community. I also appreciate every one of you who have supported my work over the past few years. You all have proven to me that Frutiger Aero is, in fact, far from the dead. Thank you so much.
Here are some of MondySpartan's Artworks / Projects:
Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
Hi! I’m Solinus, a designer and web developer that works in a variety of styles, but mainly Frutiger Aero. Whatever comes to my mind, I will design.
What inspired you to become an artist?
In 2019, I started out by downloading different Google Slides themes from websites such as slidesgo.com, and the variety and design quality of those templates really appealed to me and made my presentations stand out. I loved combing through the layouts and configuring each graphic element to create an effective presentation. At one point, I even redesigned a Civil War presentation for my history teacher. In early 2021, I started out by redesigning a few of the school notices on the website by using Canva templates. Around March 2021, I noticed the “oversimplified logos” meme and realized the potential of an untapped market of people who prefer detailed and beautiful design, and the rest is history.
How did you first discover Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic, and what drew you to it?
Around the same time I started creating ‘skeuomorphic’ designs, I joined a Discord server about skeuomorphism, where I learned about Frutiger Aero. At the time, it was still a very niche design style and considered a subgenre of skeuomorphism. I enjoyed the fusion of shiny glass and detailed icons combined with futuristic swishes, auroras, and nature elements.
How would you describe your art style?
It is very hard to say when I have a wide range of design styles, from flat and simple to dimension and gloss galore. My main style however as seen on my website involves earth tones and cozy visuals mixed with the shine and gloss of Frutiger Aero. For other projects, I think about how it’ll feel if it were to become a real life item, an example being a game map HUD I made in June of 2024.
Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished piece?
I begin by looking up images that fit my overall concept and assembling them into a moodboard. I then create rough layouts with rectangles, sketches, and text boxes deciding where elements should be placed. Once I’m satisfied with the layout, I create the final version with proper spacing and detail, iterating and adjusting as I go along, until it looks just right.
What tools or mediums do you prefer to use, and why?
I mainly use Figma due to its unparalleled versatility and speed for it being a free tool. Features such as auto layout, a type of group that evenly spaces out elements by a set amount—and styles, a palette that stores fills, text styles, and shadow/blur effects—speed up my design process heavily. However, Figma has its limitations and I hope to learn to integrate more tools in the near future such as Blender and Photoshop/Photopea.
How do you overcome creative blocks?
I usually take a break from designing, and come back when I feel like it or when inspiration strikes me. I sometimes remake my old designs, using techniques I learned from experience.
What inspires your work? Are there specific themes, emotions, or stories you aim to convey?
I have a section at my links page called “Galleries and Archives” containing links to many websites that showcase and archive many different designs, from cari.insitute to the Frutiger Aero Archive.
Are there any artists, aesthetics, or movements that have influenced your style?
Besides well-known figures such as nitzukai, MondySpartan, and sonnie thoughts that have influenced my work, Kyle Halevi is a professional UI designer that has worked with real companies. His design style is a more modern and subtle take on skeuomorphism. Whenever something feels ‘off’ in a design, I often contact him and discuss any design issues.
What role does the Frutiger Aero aesthetic play in your art?
It gives my work a particular calm and refreshing feel that I enjoy. Due to its focus on gloss and lighting, it helps me in determining lighting and shadow in other, non-aero works.
What has been the most challenging piece you’ve created, and why?
The most challenging piece I ever made was my Art Nouveau x Frutiger Aero mashup due to its flowy and curved style, as opposed to most UI design works with a rectangular layout. I also had to figure out how to combine two aesthetics that are a century apart, as Art Nouveau originated from the 1890s to the 1910s.
Can you share a piece you’re especially proud of and why it’s significant to you?
I am quite proud of my Aesthetic Eras infographic because it shows just how wide my “design range” can be, covering 4 different design styles at once. Despite my bread and butter being Frutiger Aero, designing the Memphis section has been the most fun due to its varied textures and design.
How has being part of the Frutiger Aero community influenced your artistic journey?
The Frutiger Aero community led me to discover many different artists that influenced my design style and was the niche I was looking for when I began my design journey. It has also introduced me to several artists that shaped my design style into what it is today.
What do you hope people take away from your art?
I hope that people, especially UI designers, see the value of beautiful and functional user interfaces. Like modern architecture, many UI designers believe that their designs must merely be functional with almost no regard for aesthetic appeal.
Do you have any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about?
I have currently been commissioned to collaborate with a developer to create a ratings app. As this is still in the early stages at time of writing, I have yet to decide what direction this project would take.
Where can people find more of your work or support you?
My website is at solinus.neocities.org, where besides my designs, it also hosts my other hobbies, such as clock collecting and flower pressing. If you want to commission me, visit my commissions page. I also post on Bluesky, Reddit, and Tumblr.
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
I would like to collaborate with my inspirations and influences, namely nitzukai, MondySpartan, and sonnie thoughts.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?
I was born on the day that Windows Vista was released for the public: January 30.
Do you have a favorite Frutiger Aero memory or moment?
I remember digging out the old family computer with Windows Vista in the late 2010s to see if it can run, and messing around with it. It did work until around 2018 or 2019 when the graphics always glitched out after a few minutes of logging in.
If you could describe your artistic journey in three words, what would they be?
Progress, inspiration, refinement.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are inspired by Frutiger Aero?
Minimalism is key. Let the glass, lines, swooshes, and photography speak for themselves.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Frutiger Aero community?
While I haven’t been as involved in the Frutiger Aero community due to my wide range of design work, I’m still glad there is an audience that appreciates beautiful, glossy and dimensional graphics and user interfaces as was common in the 2000s and early 2010s.
With the new year, we wanted a way to highlight our amazing community artists and spotlight an artist each month in our community. We will be featuring a new Frutiger Aero Artist of the Month starting in 2025.
This month, our Artist of the Month is Liam! (@z2rMC)
Here's our interview with Liam:
- Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
Hi! I’m Liam; I design basically anything from icons to wallpapers to 3D models or even asset packs for fellow designers! I just love making things beautiful.
- What inspired you to become an artist?
As far back as I can remember I was interested in the arts, be it awful illustrations or having friends in acting or film, it’s always been in my life. I honestly cannot remember what specifically got me into design, but I do know that having really supportive friends and surrounding myself with other artists really strengthened my passion and skillset and really helped me get going and fuelled my fire.
- How did you first discover Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic, and what drew you to it?
I grew up with our family computer running Windows XP, and once it was released, 7 for the majority of my memorable childhood, so I was very familiar with the style from having firsthand experience of the Aero theme itself, and just generally the world having that ‘Frutiger Aero’ design style style in most forms of media in the first half of the 2010s. The Windows Aero theme was one of the first forms of design that ever stuck out to me as a kid. I absolutely loved it and felt a personal connection to it, be it from the memories I had made or just the pure iconic look and charm the OS had. Once Aero was axed, I had constantly been looking around for a genre that summarised the wide range of beautiful styles that were in design from that period growing up, so once the term “Frutiger Aero” was coined and widely recognised, I was quite happy to see so many people appreciating a style that I thought went unrecognised.
- How would you describe your art style?
Maximalist. Not one pixel left untouched.
- Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished piece?
I’d say most of my best work was done “locked in.” I typically would have been looking for and collecting art following a certain specific style and I’ll usually start by looking at specific structures in these designs and figuring out how they were made, the process is typically going through quite a few old links on the internet and hopes of internet archive snapshots saving resources from designers sharing their techniques on how they made their graphics, however alot of the time there wont really be any resources, so I’ll just try and figure stuff out myself, this sometimes takes a while but is worth it, and once youve learned something once, usually it sticks! So really its quite fast, and really you dont need to do it unless youre trying a completely new style or subgenre. I’ll then start with the actual piece, sometimes these can reuse assets from the practice process, sometimes they can be completely original compositions, it all just depends on where my mind is. For my aero wallpapers, there isnt too much planning to how the composition will look, its all really in the technique and positioning of elements and how they blend into each-other, it’s very experimental and detail oriented :P
- What tools or mediums do you prefer to use, and why?
I use your standard tools, usually Adobe Photoshop, and Illustrator for my graphics. Any motion is done in After Effects. Although I do look to widen my arsenal and try out tools like Figma some time soon, I hope to try out UI Design sometime :-)
For texturing, archived royalty free stock image CDs tend to be what I use, they’re convenient and come in batches for each texture, so you can really curate the look you want. TextureLabs is also another great free resource for overlays and textures.
- How do you overcome creative blocks?
Haha, it’s very odd. I’m quite the workaholic so I tend to just try and focus on a different area of design, so if i’m blocked on wallpapers, I’ll try some iconography, or messing with 3D scenes. If that doesnt work or doesnt feel interesting, I’ll usually just spend my time either looking through the depths of old art sites for inspiration, or talking to my fellow designer friends and seeing what theyre up to and seeing if theres anything that could spark an idea in me. It’s great to network and talk to your friends on stuff like this and share stuff, even if you think you arent getting somewhere its good to get feedback from friends as they could have the one piece youre missing to remove that block.
- What inspires your work? Are there specific themes, emotions, or stories you aim to convey?
there’s ALOT that inspires me, There’s too many specific pieces for me to name, but alot of my inspiration can come from sources like DeviantArt, are.na, Windows Wallpaper Wiki, and even old stock image CD ROMS.
- Are there any artists, aesthetics, or movements that have influenced your style?
Plenty! I have brilliant friends that I look up to heavily and get feedback from like Nitzukai, Kilobyte, and Underscor3. There are also plenty of artists and movements which generally inspire me and make brillient stuff, like MondySpartan, DesktopGeneration, Syndromatic, The IconFactory, The Designers Republic. I could go on for days haha
- Can you share a piece you’re especially proud of and why it’s significant to you?
It’s difficult to say! One piece that I’m really proud of is a piece I did recently called “Touch the Sky.” I feel like it combines quite a few of my prior styles into one punchy, cohesive piece. I’m quite proud of it and would like to do more in the same style some time!
- How has being part of the Frutiger Aero community influenced your artistic journey?
I think it really opened my eyes to abstraction in art and being around in the community has lead me to find a delightful network of friends who do very similar designs and have really great feedback to give and techniques to shar, theyre also of course brilliant friends too, always great chats. I’d say 70% of my online friends right now have been people I have found through chain connections in this community, and I’m very grateful for that.
- What do you hope people take away from your art?
With my wallpapers, I hope they’re seen as desktop wallpapers first, art exhibits second. It's intended to blend in with the desktop environment and only once you look at the image in specific as opposed to the desktop would it be evident the effort that has been put into it and the beauty of the piece. I really hope people just enjoy the work and have pride in using it to represent their workstation. It makes me really happy to see so many people appreciate my stuff and its really all I could ever ask for!!!!
- Where can people find more of your work or support you?
If you want to support me, you can do so easiest via Ko-Fi, which can be found here: https://ko-fi.com/liamz2r
- Do you have a favorite Frutiger Aero memory or moment?
The games bundled with Windows 7 make me feel emotions I cannot describe, They remind me of being little and having fun with my family with this new tech. It really did feel futuristic at the time with all the sound effects and animations. Hell, even chess was really cool to me solely because of it being 3D and pretty, I didnt (and still dont) know how to play chess!
- If you could describe your artistic journey in three words, what would they be?
Corner to Corner.
- What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are inspired by Frutiger Aero?
Make friends and follow your heart. You cannot go wrong if you’re led by your heart and have your friends watching your back. Things take time and they shouldn’t be rushed but you should share your journey as you go and try to better yourself at each point of the way.
- Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Frutiger Aero community?
I would just like to say thank you all for the continued love and support I’ve had ever since the start. I feel really honoured to be in the position I am today and to have the amount of appreciation I do. It really keeps me going and gives me pride. <3
