A Forgotten Aesthetic: Frutiger Metro (ft. ShaiiValley) 

Take a shot (of a non-alcoholic beverage) for every time I say ‘Frutiger Metro’ 🥂

This aesthetic just reminds me of the scene/emo aesthetic the most. It’s so violently early 2000s and late 90s and is an aesthetic that feels ageless almost. It just reminds me of Target in the clothing section during 2009. It’s so gritty but I know it sounds like Gym Class Heroes and Like a G6. Sounds like JROCK and early emo music.

Frutiger Metro was what I associated with being a teenager when I was a preteen in the very early 2010's, because every 'teen' product had that kind of design in comparison to their minimalist 'adult' counterparts. I mean everyday products like dedorant and other hygiene produts, magazines, makeup, stationery and school supplies etc. etc. buying them when I was 11-12 made me feel like 'a cool teen'

This aesthetic makes me feel nostalgic and lowkey old

I remember seeing that little monster dude EVERYWHERE, yet I never knew it's name or where he was from.

this aesthetic makes me yearn to be a scene kid more than ever 🥹

thanks for having me on 🙌💯

I actually stuck with windows 7 until 2022 before I was finally forced to move to 10, I did not want to abandoned my beautiful Aero :(

oh my lord the nostalgia hit me like a truck with this one. when i was a kid all my notebooks' covers would have these designs and i would browse through deviantart for hours looking for wallpapers and vector art of these. i had no idea it had a name.. i wanted to be a cool teenager just like this aesthetic looked like...wow..

I am from India and I distinctly remember the rapid shift of notebook front cover design from wildlife and scenary to frutiger metro in 2005/2006. After that frutiger meteo dominated covers till 2010 and then minimal design took over. Seeing this video felt very nostalgic as I used to love those notebook covers.

haha, i remember creating the image at 3:06 cuz i was bored one day. its fun to see it in a video about frutiger aero and metro!

This aesthetic is "2010's school notebook"

My design career started in 2001 and you nailed it. But I can’t emphasize enough how this look moved from independent music artwork where it incubated, and jumped to what agencies wanted. Street art was very cool at the time

I think another good example of Frutiger Metro is Persona 4 Golden's opening, "Shadow World", as well as that game's whole UI design in general. Though that game might have come out a little after this aesthetic was popular.

I don't know how old you are, but you're probably not that much younger than I am (I was born in the late 90s, so somewhere between the last millenials and the first zoomers). I find it so fascinating that younger zoomers are now adopting and revitalizing certain aesthetics that I grew up with but never really thought twice about until recently. In the early 2010s, I remember there being a "90s" resurgence on the internet ("You know you're a 90s kid if you remember so and so", etc.) My friends and I talked about how 90s culture came a couple years late to our country or how we were born in the 90s so we still technically qualify as "90s kids" (we really didn't, we were way too young to remember being alive during the 90s), but we wanted to be part of this in-group so bad because it seemed cool and aesthetic. Now the real 90s kids are in their 30s with their own kids, and the phase of 2000s nostalgia itself has come and is slowly passing, only to be adopted by the slightly younger generation who barely lived through the 2000s but long for the neat things their older siblings grew up with. Such an interesting cycle but damn if it doesn't make me feel old.

this wasn’t a nostalgia trip, this was a nostalgia mugging

It's pretty interesting to me that the broad Frutiger aesthetic is the retro-futurism of our time very much like the "atomic age" futurism of the 60's (a la the retro Fallout aesthetic). There's only a few other times in history where the predominant styling was so heavily influenced by what our view of a utopian future could look like.

I was born in 92 so i got to experience this era. I didn't really think much that it was an aesthetic until the end when i got internet at home around 2006. It's weird because i didn't really think about it until recently and suddenly everyone started talking about it. Thank you for video. Love your other stuff too. Please keep it up 🙏🏻

This made me remember I used to make bad Frutiger Merto wallpapers on photoshop when I was in high school. Once I saw those vectors, it all came flooding back.

I was born in '96 so my childhood was Frutiger Aero and my teens were Frutiger Metro! Both bring me so much nostalgia :') I was a bit of a 'scene kid' especially in middle school and would have been much more so if my parents had let me XD how I dressed was a somewhat toned down scene look. Ive always wanted to go all out with it though, I just find it fun!

Its crazy how i was aware of these aesthetics back in the day and i really hated them i thought they were cheesy. I thought minimalism was the way to go. Now getting older and feeling nostalgic for those old styles. The resurgence is something i never thought I'd see

MIKA also dabbled a lot in frutiger metro. I recently watched the "Relax, take it easy!" video and it's literally just frutiger metro vibes all around

0:16 Nohluhn🔥🔥🔥

haven’t seen the video yet but thank god someone is talking about this aesthetic!!!! frutiger metro / vector vomit is one of my favorite aesthetics because of how busy it is

All of these unique aesthetics, feel so comforting, almost as if you have seen them in like a past life or something.

Frou Frou’s music, especially “let go” is what I think this whole aesthetic sounds like.

I noticed that a lot of athletic clothing brands like Nike and Adidas used to use the frutiger metro style in a lot of their clothing items. I have specific memories of some of my friends owning t-shirts with typical frutiger metro patterns. I also remember HP releasing a laptop called the HP artist edition with a frutiger metro case that was just quintessentially 2000s.

i had multiple older cousins that had rooms just like the one in 0:38 and now everytime it takes me back. I hope they are doing well. Thank you for this video and it reminded me of middle school trying to befriend all of the grade 9 kids who were scene and were into this kinda stuff. Love your content, really puts a smile on my face.

I watched a ton of VH1 during their Frutiger Metro era. It was their entire visual voice for a while and pretty fitting for the music they pushed - the white stripes, modest mouse, foo fighters etc etc

Frutiger was so unique and now it is a bit nostalgic, probably one of the better videos. Edit: OMG my fan art has been showcased in this video too 😱😱😄

Thank god you made this. I've always just called this the 2008 aesthetic.

As someone who attended high school from 2004-2009, I can firmly vouch for this aesthetic. I had my own domo plushie and played little big planet too. I also miss the whole vibe of myspace a lot. I miss the level of control that users used to have over their profile pages back then. Looking back at old archived scene-kid myspace profiles is a real trip. I wish mine was still up so I could look at it. One thing I really remember about this aesthetic were the colors black, pink, white and yellow. Everything was purposely striking and disordered. Lots of paint brush textures and LOTS of stars. Stars symbols everywhere!!

This aesthetic is underrated compared to others and I remember this one very distinctly making up a big part of my childhood, I've always been a massive fan of the style. the music videos to 'Cassius - 1999', 'Outlines - Just a Little Lovin', 'Mylo - Destroy Rock N Roll' and all the 2000's iPod commercials are great examples along with the classic RU-vid channel layout, who else remembers those days of early RU-vid and the custom background colours you could have? I had a black and neon green one inspired by the style. Good times.

Thank you for using my art here 💟

You know what, I'm gonna adopt this aesthetic. I remember loving this look growing up.

I LOVE THESE AESTHETICS THEYRE MY FAVORITES I LOVE 2000S STUFF

I never knew these aesthetics had a name…but now I do. Personally, as a 2000s kid myself, I love the frutiger Metro/arrow aesthetic. It looks so sleek and cool, gosh we need to bring back the 2000s aesthetics. Now more minimalistic logos and aesthetics. Gimme some looks with character. Also I’ve played little big planet and I can confirm it has that aesthetic. Also…Translucent game consoles….BRING BACK TRANSLUCENT GAME CONSOLES!

this is the first frutiger metro video i watch mentioning (and showing!!) early vocaloid PVs!! 💕 "saihate" is peak frutiger metro :] other examples are "secret" (the one with luka) and "word's end dancehall". i have been listening to vocaloid since the early days lol

it's not forgotten. just suppressed.

Finally got around to watching this banger. Well done dude! Frutiger Aero and Metro was a heavy part of my childhood growing up and was used in many of the DS games I played at the time. I'm glad you included the "comeback" portion of the video! It gives a good send off of stuff to look forward to. I love Romance Planet especially

Every time this man post something it makes my day cuz the content that you make is REALLY REALLY interesting and other RU-vid channels just aren't as good, but your channel is just different. I just love your content man.

FRITIGER METRO MENTIONED⁉️⁉️⁉️🗣️🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🔥

This is one of those things I always thought about as a kid but never knew how to put to words. Thanks for this

I have NEVER heard about this aesthetic! I have only seen Frutiger in those recent the future we were promised videos.

German music TV channel "Viva" had an absolutely insane aesthetic in their bumpers etc in the 2000s that featured this

It's also significant that grunge is directed to the grunge music style which was popular in the 90's. Millenials were teens in te 2000's and they were nostalgic about the 90's. Just as the Gen'Zers are nostalgic of the 2000's. Its a half-way kind of loop and piece by piece things get forgotten as decades truly become like 30 years in the past. Thanks for this documentation effords :)!!

One of the best things I have watched. Thank you. I think about this transition often, in terms of technology, software, forms, operating systems, and also then the commercial paper. but I didn't connect all of them together. even that trending NewJeans PSP video, or yabujin, or various other nostalgic 2010 culture references, I didn't think of fitting it together. Thank you.

thanks for making this, i really enjoyed it! im the creator of the frutiger metro article on the aesthetics wiki and i never expected it to be such a catalyst for this huge revival of the aesthetic. its great to see.

0:42 That Vinyl Scratch wallpaper was one of my favorite desktop backgrounds in 2011, thanks for the blast of nostalgia!

NOHLUHN JUMPSCARE…

Ahhh I’m so happy to put a name to the aesthetic I always saw growing up 💖 another amazing video!

Man! Thank you so much for giving me a term to describe the feeling I get when playing little big planet!!! I’ve always loved that vibe but couldn’t ever describe it!

Oh my gosh you made me remember little 12 year old me (with no internet access at the time) thinking to myself that there had to be a name for that kind of style (Frutiger Metro). Over 10 years later and I'm sitting here having lunch and this video popped up in my feed. It finally has a name!! Thank you so much!

I have a very big interest in aesthetics and especially more of the older ones. I really love Futigera aero since it's also pretty nostalgic for me ^^ Great video btw

Little Big Planet was my favorite game when i was a around 12. Time flies by so fast. I used to post lots of those Domo edits on my facebook and have them as my background on my ipod touch! Thanks for making this video that captures a lot of the aesthetics that were popular when i was growing up

bro, the nostalgia almost makes me cry, great Video man

i love this deep dive on frutiger metro as its something i constantly was exposed to as a kid constantly on the internet, thanks for making this ^_^

Loved this video!!! JadenSalads and ShaiiValley, a legendary duo!! You’ve got to wonder how people are going to define/name the aesthetic of now/the past couple of years, 10 years in the future. Might be interesting to discuss in a video!

I did not know i needed this. Gave me loads of nostalgia and inspiration for future projects. Thank you

So excited to see you upload

Called this crossover! Someone owes me money hahaha! Jokes aside, awesome vid! Hope more of these pop up soon.

I see domo on the thumbnail and cry 😭 tears of joy that someone else remeber him 😂

Damn bro what a blast to the past fr mn. Great vid

Ohh my god i was waiting for this aesthetic to be talked abt the past few years . I remember 2000s summer disney xd commercials, zune wallpapers, old mlp 2010s fanart, etc. And wondering if there was a title for it agghagah finally seeing ppl talk abt aero and metro makes me so happy im so lucky to have experienced it

Goated collab

nostalgia being a drug is actually equatable

I saw the Nohluhn edit and I was immediately hooked on this video

Thank you for reminding me of my childhood❤ i love frutiger metro so much

Literally just got the name ping in the server lol, you work fast

Man.. I feel old.

i really enjoyed this video, i clicked on it because i really enjoy the aesthetics of frutiger aero and frutiger metro, and i find the visual elements in them very nostalgic since i was born in 2005, but also because the miniature of the video reminded me of some murals that are on the walls of my college (that i am willing to share on my tumblr if anyone is interested). my college usually makes students who are majoring(? in graphic design paint murals on the walls as a way to give more life to the whole building and there are a lot of different ones that just remind me a lot of frutiger metro, especially this one that is designed digitally (that probably doesn't count as a mural because it's a giant sticker covering some windows) that felt so familiar to me since it reminded me a lot of tokidoki and domo-kun (because of the characters and the design of the art itself)

This is such a random and niche video and feels so important all the sudden

Every time I get into something this guy makes a video on it.

This aesthetic can also be called "Friendster-core" or "MySpace-core"

ive always loved frutiger metro

As someone who is Emo and embraces a lot of aspects of scene culture and fashion, this was an awesome nostalgic trip to look back on the aesthetics of the era. Amazing vid as usual Jaden 💚

This is like this generations vaporwave aesthetic

Frutiger emo

yt has been recommending me these old aesthetic vids recently and i done know why but im here for it

Man i love this kinds of aesthetic, im happy i grew up playing with the psp, it was SO cool!

I hated frutiger metro then and i still do now.

glad it is forgotten, it was so ugly

the mall shot at 1:36 is a real location: SM City Santa Rosa (located in Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines). It's alive, and always with a lot of shoppers, especially during weekends.

This is so fascinating- I never knew there was even a name for these designs! I had a Frutiger Grunge folder with a vector whom looked like Avril Lavigne and with red and black paint splatter

It is not forgotten please stop

The little song sample at 13:40 made me really happy. Instantly recognized that little gem from long ago

As soon as I saw examples of Frutiger Metro, I was hit by a wave of nostalgia. Like my desktop background at the time, the theming and many of the shows on Disney XD, my iPad case, to name a few from my memory

I was 20 in 2007. This video brought memories I didn't know i had!😊 Thank you for this ❤

This aesthetic always reminds me of my older brother back in his last days hs and first days of college. I remember having all these memories with him, playing on his xbox, watching him wear his domo merch all the time, all those Frutiger metro prints on every shirt. The artwork of that era was so cool and weirdly very fascinating to me. A part of me is happy that I got to experience this small sub genre and era while it lasted, even if I was a kid. I still find it just as cool to think about my brother during those days, carefree and young. Thinking about it makes me nostalgic and happy :).

Finally! Edit: worth the wait 💯

This video was worth the wait

Okay so that Red Jumpsuit Apparatus bit got to me. I was there, blasting that through my awful headphones where one earbudud only half worked, I hung out with those scene kids. I typed ^_^ on their MySpace pages. I'm literally looking at an old Domo-kun plush I still have from back in the day as I type this. I was not expecting to feel so called out in this video lmao. It is really cool to see such a resurgence of appreciation for these aesthetics tho, especially from people who weren't around then. It makes me feel old as hell for sure but I can live with that.

frutiger metro reminds me so much of my older brother in the early 2010s. his orange ipod shuffle, playing his skate games on his ps3 everyday. his baggy jeans, beat up nike shocks, rock band sweatshirt with thumb holes is the sleeves. he would have guitar lessons every tuesday with with black electric guitar. we would play guitar hero together everyday. of course you can’t forget the games, cut the rope, zombie life, plants vs monsters, and pocket god. i really miss it.

YEAY!!!! Jaden posted about frutiger metro :D

Love the inclusion of the Black Kids music video on here! :D That’s one of my favorite songs from the era.

I vividly remember using that example image of frutiger metro with the speakers and dancy silhouettes on my early high school years computer slides talking about about myself and goals at the time when i had a dancing phase and needed something cool, they were my go to aesthetic choices for most of my presentations back then

Man you just UNLOCKED some shit for me Jaden. I remember frutiger metro started becoming popular when I was in my early teens, around when one first starts choosing their own style. I grew up with aero and that was just kind of the default to me, once metro came around I remember really liking it and styling my desktop, phone, etc. around the aesthetic (particularly the grungy metro). Completely forgot about it til now, wow.

It’s so funny seeing that one new jeans edit in the beginning

I think you would really appreciate the style of Playstation Home, that is some peak Frutiger Metro. Growing up during the height of all of this, it was so cool to see and imagine what the world might be like, and of course, I was just a little too young. I feel that’s part of the magic of it though. Most of us were too young to have been as seriously invested in the time as the 16-20 yr olds at the time. It all just looked so magical through the eyes of someone younger, desperately wanting to be a part of a those communities that were really popular around the time, (scene, punk, etc…) it just feels like you were able to be more shamelessly you, the purest form of you, that there is. Turning your MySpace into an absolute eyesore, because it was unapologetically you. It just seems that the desire to be bombastic, and uncaring about what the world could think of you, you’re just happy to have a way to share your interests with the world!

Grungy metro is so nostalgic. I was first learning how to use photoshop in this era and the amount of paint splatter brushes and floral swirl vectors I had downloaded on my windows XP computer was insane but I needed to make some deep and artsy graphicz for my deviantart page like a fish needed water