🪐 The Orbit Newsletter: Issue #2
Oh look, it’s The Orbit - back in your inbox with tips, tools, and a whole lot of Millennial nostalgia.
This edition? It’s all about throwback vibes, retro designs, and the stuff we unapologetically love (hello, VHS filters and chunky fonts).
📝 Quick Summary:
🖋️ Feature Of The Month: Deep Dive into the TikTok ban
🌍 Orbit Trend Spotlight: Y2K
🛠️ Toolbox Addition of the Week: Helpful tools for retro look
📚 Monthly editorial pick: Taschen’s All-American Ads of the 90s
📣 Orbit News: New Content type!
🖋️ Feature Of The Month:
This month, we’re teaming up with
on something really close to our hearts - how creative parents juggle daily life while keeping their creativity alive. It’s an interesting interview and dive into the messy, beautiful balancing act of parenting and making cool things. Definitely worth a read!
We’re also collaborating with
, who just dropped an insightful piece on TikTok - if you’ve ever wondered how did we get here, you’ll want to check this one out. Let us know what you think!
🌍 Orbit Trend Spotlight:
The Y2K aesthetic, a unique intersection of technology, pop culture, and creativity, is experiencing a resurgence in the current digital age. With the growing embrace of AI, technology, and digital spaces, the sleek designs of the early Internet are once again finding relevance, but with a fresh perspective. The 2000s were a time of significant innovation in art and design, a period that saw the rise of digital animation and new design trends like Vaporwave. The Y2K design, with its vibrant and bold colour palettes and asymmetrical layouts, is a perfect fit for the energy and excitement of today.
The Y2K era spans from the late '90s to the mid-2000s—a time when Millennials feel a lot of nostalgia. The rise of the Internet, MTV, Pop music, and reality TV was typified by scarf tops, boot-cut jeans, velour tracksuits (just like Paris Hilton in her Juicy Couture), pastels, metallics, and showy accessories, from furry bucket hats and trucker caps to bowling bags and butterfly clips.
Everyone remembers those most iconic Y2K Celebrity looks:
Britney Spears: Denim-on-denim with Justin Timberlake at the 2001 AMAs—a quintessential Y2K moment.
Jennifer Lopez: The green Versace dress at the 2000 Grammys, was so iconic it inspired Google Images.
Paris Hilton: Her silver chainmail dress at her 21st birthday party became the ultimate party look.
Destiny’s Child: Matching metallic outfits in “Survivor” set the standard for futuristic fashion.
Aaliyah: Effortless tomboy-chic with crop tops and baggy Tommy Hilfiger pants.
Christina Aguilera: Edgy low-rise chaps and midriff-baring tops in the “Dirrty” era.
Gwen Stefani: Punk-glam fusion with bindis, bold prints, and Harajuku influences.
Missy Elliott: Inflated patent leather suit in “The Rain” music video—pure experimental genius.
🛠️ Toolbox Addition of the Month:
Looking to add some old-school charm to your projects? Whether you’re after that grainy VHS vibe, some retro fonts, or just want your work to feel like it belongs in a vintage record store, these apps and websites have you covered.
1. Old-School Sound & Music
Lo-Fi Player (Web): Create lo-fi, nostalgic soundscapes with 8-bit and vinyl crackle effects.
BandLab (Web/iOS/Android): Offers retro sound packs and effects for music and audio design.
2. Vintage Photo & Video Effects
Prequel (iOS/Android): Offers 90s and VHS filters, retro effects, and dreamy film overlays.
Dazz Cam (iOS): Emulates old-school film cameras with retro filters and light leaks.
3. Retro Graphic Design Tools
Canva (Web/iOS/Android): Tons of retro-inspired templates, fonts, and textures for posters, social media, and branding.
Pixlr (Web/iOS/Android): Easy-to-use editor with vintage overlays, light leaks, and film grain effects.
4. Nostalgic Fonts & Typography
Free Faces: A curated collection of free, high-quality fonts for designers looking to add unique and stylish typography to their projects.
Heritage Type Co. (Web): Specialized in authentic vintage design templates and fonts.
The League of Moveable Type: An open-source font foundry offering beautifully crafted, free typefaces that empower designers to create with creative freedom.
5. Vintage Video Game & Pixel Art Tools
Piskel (Web): Free tool for creating retro pixel art and sprite animations.
Itch.io (Web): Tons of indie retro games and assets to inspire nostalgic game designs.
6. Texture & Overlay Resources
Textures.com (Web): Offers high-quality vintage paper, film grain, and grunge textures.
Filmstock (Web): Stock assets with retro video effects, film burns, and old-school overlays.
🖇️ Practical Tip: How to Add a Nostalgic Touch to Your Projects
Want to give your work that warm, throwback vibe? Whether you’re designing, writing, or creating content, here’s how to sprinkle in just the right amount of nostalgia:
1. Choose Your Era
Decide what kind of nostalgia you want to channel.
80s: Neon colors, VHS static, arcade graphics.
90s: Bold patterns, grunge textures, pixel art.
Early 2000s: Y2K chrome, glitter, and futuristic fonts.
🔧 Tool Tip: Use Coolors.co to find retro color palettes or Dazz Cam for vintage filters.
2. Play with Retro Fonts
Typography can instantly transport your audience.
Use chunky, bold fonts for a 90s look.
Try pixelated or glitchy fonts for tech nostalgia.
🔧 Tool Tip: Download free retro fonts from The League of Moveable Type or Free Faces.
3. Add Vintage Textures & Filters
Give your designs that worn-in, analog feel.
Use grainy overlays, film scratches, or paper textures.
Apply VHS, Polaroid, or glitch effects to images and videos.
🔧 Tool Tip: Try PhotoMosh for glitch effects or Fotor for vintage photo filters.
4. Mix in Pop Culture References
Sprinkle in familiar icons, phrases, or styles from the era you’re channeling.
Think cassette tapes, floppy disks, or retro cartoons.
Subtle nods can create an instant emotional connection.
🔧 Tool Tip: Use Canva’s retro elements or find vintage graphics on Vecteezy.
5. Use Nostalgic Colour Palettes
Colours can evoke strong emotions.
80s: Bright neons and pastel gradients.
90s: Bold primaries, earth tones, and funky contrasts.
🔧 Tool Tip: Check out Color Hunt for curated retro palettes.
6. Incorporate Analog Sounds
Sound design matters too!
Add cassette clicks, vinyl crackles, or lo-fi background noise.
Use retro synths or chiptune beats in your music projects.
🔧 Tool Tip: Browse sound effects on Freesound.org or lo-fi tracks on BandLab.
7. Keep It Authentic, Not Overdone 📏
Balance is key. Nostalgia should enhance your work, not overpower it. Mix vintage elements with modern design for a fresh but familiar feel.
👉🏼 And there you have it! Now go ahead and create something that feels like it belongs in a mixtape or an old Polaroid photo.
📝 Monthly Editorial Pick:
Taschen’s All-American Ads of the 90s
Taschen’s All-American Ads of the 90s is a fun and colourful trip back to a decade full of change and creativity. The book is packed with ads from the 1990s, covering everything from technology and fashion to food and entertainment. It gives readers a great look at how advertising reflected the culture of the time, including the rise of grunge music, hip-hop, and the early days of the internet.
The book doesn’t focus only on big brands like Apple, Coca-Cola, and Nike but also includes smaller, forgotten ads that make the collection feel complete. You can see how companies experimented with bold designs, funny slogans, and the new technologies of the era, like early mobile phones and websites. This book isn’t just about nostalgia. It also shows how attitudes around gender, race, and lifestyles were changing in the 90s. Some ads feel timeless, while others highlight how much society has grown since then, making it both entertaining and eye-opening.
In short, All-American Ads of the 90s is perfect for anyone who loves design, pop culture, or just wants a fun look at the past. It’s a great way to relive the 90s or explore what made that decade so unique.
🔗 Get this book here
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📣 What’s New:
400+ Space Cadets and Counting! 🚀
We’re beyond proud to announce that The Orbit now has over 400 Space Cadets following us on Substack! Your support means so much to us, and we’re just getting started. Thank You for being part of this incredible creative journey!
New Creative Resources Coming Soon! 🛠️
We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to bring you fresh creative tools and resources - for both paid and free subscribers! From templates to guides, we’re making sure every one has what they need to fuel their creativity.
Introducing: Creative History Threads! 🧵
We’ve just launched a brand-new content series: Creative History Threads! They are bite-sized, inspiring deep dives into design, art, and creative movements that shaped the world. We hope you’re loving it as much as we are!
🌟 Bonus Content:
Do you want to time-travel back to the raddest decade ever? Take this fun and nostalgic quiz to discover which 90s aesthetic matches your vibe. Let’s find out if you’re more Lisa Frank Dreamer or Grunge Rebel!
🔗 You can find it here:
Catch you next time,
The Orbit Crew