In all of these design developments, it was decided to show the Greco-Roman bust blowing bubbles of gum in order to link the designs to it's context, as well as linking to the initial bubblegum aesthetics. For this reason, these were paired with the pink backgrounds to match, as well as to act as the original 'flavour'. These backgrounds have been pixelated slightly in order to produce a grainy effect, similar to that of static on a TV screen for instance. This was done in order to give the background more substance, and to continue reflecting ideas of technology that are present in vaporwave. In all of these developments, the bust has also been paired with the use of Doric columns in a variety of compositions, making use of the circular shape in different ways. These two pieces of imagery are often paired together within the vaporwave aesthetic and therefore have been done so in this instance to enhance its meanings based on surrealism and neo-classicism within vaporwave.
Variations of this 'flavour' design include imagery of a checked neon floor stretching into the distance. This type of aesthetic is something which can sometimes be linked to imagery within video games and the themes of neon found within Japanese and Asian imagery, such as neon lights in the skyline, something which is commonly reproduced within vaporwave to represent ideas of consumerism and unreality.
For the next 'flavour' and set of design developments, it was decided to focus on ideas of obsolete technology and design. Based on initial mood boards, it was found that such imagery tended to produce more muted colours, such as greys and pale blues, therefore this pale blue colour was reproduced for the background of this particular set of stickers. Again, the colour was made static for the same reasons, enhancing its communication of technology.
Through research, it was found that Microsoft Windows 95 and 98 software designs were sources of imagery used within the vaporwave aesthetic in regards to obsolete technology. Windows 98 was what brought up the reputation of Microsoft and therefore has been used in these designs to show the start of the digital era, as well as elements of nostalgia in their design. Depictions of outmoded tech and outdated graphic design is largely a comment on the 21st Century's pretensions of being unparalleled in its technological sophistication. The Windows 98 logotype has been used on its own in some developments to produce more minimalistic designs. This was done to produce a sort of parallel to the digital overload of information that is present within the 21st Century. In other designs, this logo has been paired with the outdated Windows paint software, as well as chunky PC's and Game boys.
For the third 'flavour' and set of design developments, it was decided to focus on the theme of Japanese and Asian imagery, mixed with themes of hazy skylines and summer to present ideas of escapism. To help present these themes, it was decided to use one of the typical colour schemes consisting of more darker colours, often highlighted with lines of neon colour. In response to this, these developments show to use a colour palette of purple, black, green and yellow.
All but a few of these developments include imagery of a checked neon floor stretching into the distance, similar to that used in the first set of design developments. This has been use for similar reasons to enhance the themes of this 'flavour' within vaporwave, imagery which can be linked to video games and neon colours found within Japanese and Asian imagery, such as neon lights in the skyline. This has been used with a fading sun at the end of this path, as well as two palm trees in the foreground, something found to represent ideas of escape from the reality of modern existence. However, in pairing these with the neon, this shows that it is often hard to escape the overload of information and consumerism present in the digital age.
Other designs also incorporate an image of an anime character which is something that is often presented within vaporwave imagery to represent Japanese and Asian themes, used in an attempt to transform reality and people into an artificial, illusory construct, particularly in their pairing with abstracted backgrounds.
All three sets of developments use a small element of typography within their designs in that of the Japanese characters for the word 'bubblegum'. This links to the themes of Japanese typography and imagery used within vaporwave, something which has been used to help link the designs to its context in both the bubblegum packaging and to represent ideas of vaporwave. These have been placed in a consistent size and placement at the top of each circle, curved slightly to fit the shape to help produce a small element of consistency between all three 'flavours' and designs.
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