Opinion by IsabellaHayes

Where has all the color gone?

The muted, neutral tones, simple shapes and negative space seen everywhere from offices to the insides of stores to modern homes can be attributed to the rising popularity of minimalism, an aesthetic that appears to have taken today’s world by storm. Even the city of Omaha has faced changes proving that it’s no stranger to the trend.

Take a look at the Old Market and downtown area; it’s home to some of Omaha’s oldest buildings, including the former Brandeis department store, the original Omaha Public Library and the Union Station. 

Each of these structures are adorned with beautiful engravings, detailed trim and a variety of architectural styles and influences. Even the old factories and warehouses are beautiful brick buildings with personality. 

Despite architects and construction companies today having access to more resources and technology than ever before, most modern buildings sorely lack detail and character. Instead, homes, stores, restaurants, offices and more have become nondescript blocks, as the number one priority is to construct them as quickly and cheaply as possible. 

Not only are these places bland in appearance, but since they’re primarily made of cheap materials, their quality is significantly worse than the decades-old structures that are still standing strong. 

The rise of minimalism has been greatly apparent when it comes to fast food restaurants. Wendy’s was once Western themed with sunrooms. Taco Bells used to be built with Southwestern-style stucco walls, arches and tiled roofs. Pizza Huts were instantly recognizable from their iconic hut-shaped roofs. McDonald’s locations stood out because of their red sloped Mansard roofs topped with yellow light strips resembling French fries. Dairy Queen was once known for its distinctive barn-shaped buildings. 

Now all of these franchises have faced remodels and rebrands that make them relatively colorless, plain and nearly indistinguishable from one another. Their formerly welcoming appearances have turned cold and sterile. 

Large corporations have traded color, whimsy and personality to fully embrace bland aesthetics intended to be marketable to anyone. The main goal is to profit, not to utilize creativity and fun designs.

This shift is not only seen in architecture — minimalism has seemingly infiltrated everything from fashion to art to furniture. The term “millennial gray” has even been coined to describe the common color of choice for home, retail and office interiors, especially during and since the 2010s.

Whimsy could be restored to the mainstream if companies allowed and encouraged designers, marketing professionals and architects to employ imagination and originality rather than following the minimalist trend for advertisements, buildings and products. 

However, since the use of minimalistic aesthetics has seemed to bring in money, it’s doubtful as to whether corporations will ever feel the need to change.

Many, including me, are growing tired of the depressing blandness and would love to see color return to our world. Hopefully, the pendulum will swing back to favor maximalism in the upcoming years.