The 20th century completely changed up the way people view and thought about art. As an illustrator, the shift from traditional, realistic classic painting to expressive work that focus on emotions and movements was dramatic. As we may think these art would have nothing to do with UI/UX design, but I actually think in many ways, movements like Fauvism, Cubism, and Futurism also greatly influenced how we design digital experiences today.
Fauvism was all about wild, vibrant color. Instead of copying the “real” world, Fauvist artists used bold palettes to stir up emotions. That same idea shows up in modern design, where color is used to grab attention, guide users, or set a mood. Think of those bright app interfaces and playful ads—they’re carrying forward the Fauvist spirit of using color as a powerful emotional tool.
Cubism broke objects apart and begins to try showing multiple perspectives at once. It’s a bit like how today’s interfaces are built from modular pieces—groups, grids, panels—As we begin building a prototype, we start with low- fidelity and its represented by simple, broken down shapes. Cubism reminds designers that experiences don’t always have to be linear. We should consider everything in multiple perspectives and think out of the box.
Futurism focused on speed, energy, and technology. As technology became more and more developed, people became more enthusiastic and energized, dreaming about the better future. The modern screen technologies were all bizarre imaginations at the time, but they all eventually became real at some point in the future, so we shouldn’t be too restricted by whether the designs are realistic and doable. Futurist artists also wanted to capture the rush of modern life, and today’s designers do the same with fast, fluid interfaces that feel alive and full of motion.
Minimalism took the opposite approach—cutting things down to the essentials. This “less is more” philosophy is everywhere in UI/UX. Clean layouts, simple typography, lots of white space—it all comes from the Minimalist push for clarity and focus. By stripping away the unnecessary, design becomes more usable, more intentional, and somehow more visually pleasant as well.
Put together, I can see how much have we learned and inspired from these movements. Fauvism gave us bold colors, Cubism inspired modular structures, Futurism pushed us toward dynamic flows, and Minimalism reminded us to keep things clear and simple. Modern UI/UX isn’t just about function—it’s carrying forward a century of artistic experimentation, turning visual ideas into interactive experiences.