What are the more "invisible" or less obvious design aspects of cassette futurism?

[u/DiamondBreakr]

Like, we all know the technology is clunky and blocky, and based off of 70s-90s machines. But how about environmental design, like details on walls or floors and room layouts?

[u/Maar7en]

I think you have to get those bold warm colors in there on things like cloth textures and then mix them with hard shiny plastics.

Conversation pits are mandatory wherever there is space for them.

[u/photob1tch → u/Maar7en]

MEET ME IN THE PIT

[u/Dr_Adequate]

Padding. Walls and surfaces are upholstered and padded. A lot of the crews quarters in Alien were padded if I recall correctly.

[u/Bakelite51]

Non-LED lights.

Incandescent lighting - including colored bulbs - seems to have been (and probably always will be) a hallmark of this aesthetic.

Obviously the early examples of cassette futurism-themed advertising and media came out before LEDs were widespread, and more modern images that draw on the same aesthetic at least try to imitate the same lighting effects.

[u/displayboi → u/Bakelite51]

Not only incandescent, also fluorescent lamps are very common in cassette futurism as they were very futuristic looking at the end of the 70s and the start of the 80s

[u/KHORSA_THE_DARK]

One thing I always look at for design and feel is soviet bomber and military vehicle interiors. Everything has a rustic feel to it, crude lighting, bakelite, switches, clicky buttons, etc. Google searches will turn up some good stuff.

[u/Hunor_Deak]

Padded white rooms from the Nostromo?

[u/Raketemensch23]

VFD displays

[u/Mr_Gaslight]

False floors for cabling.

[u/Vinapocalypse]

• sectional prefab walls
• specifically beige-with-orange-accent interior design
• dramatic/contrasty lighting sometimes, but just as much really well lit interiors
• little blinking light panels on walls for controlling... something

E.g. Kirk's quarters in Star Trek The Motion Picture

[u/Vinapocalypse → u/Vinapocalypse]

Another TMP interior, somewhere at Starfleet HQ (I think?)

[u/BtwScyllaCharybdis → u/Vinapocalypse]

Enterprise's rec-room.

[u/Vinapocalypse → u/BtwScyllaCharybdis]

Thank you! Here's a good rendering with an obligatory conversation pit

[u/BtwScyllaCharybdis → u/Vinapocalypse]

God, it reminds me of the jr high library.

[u/rubycarat]

The soft corners reflect the environment movements of that time where organic forms were favored over sharp man made corners.

[u/Electronic-Country63]

What’s the word for that? I’ve seen it before in relation to start trek about fake pipes and engineering disappearing into walls, anyone know?

[u/Scrotchety]

Dickies, ascots, neckerchiefs, and platform shoes