How to Draw Memphis Design Art

What You'll Need

• •Sketchbook or smooth drawing paper
• •Pencil and eraser for planning the layout
• •Black fineliner, marker, or technical pen for crisp outlines
• •Markers, gouache, acrylic paint, or colored pencils for flat bright fills
• •Optional ruler, compass, and circle templates for clean geometry
• •Digital tools: any drawing app with shape tools, layers, fill, and a hard-edged brush

Step by Step

1. 1

   1. Start with a small, balanced canvas

   Choose a square or poster-like rectangle so the design feels graphic and intentional. Lightly mark a few zones where shapes can live, but do not divide the page too evenly; Memphis Design likes deliberate imbalance. Leave some open space so the composition can breathe, because crowded surfaces lose clarity fast.

2. 2

   2. Build a simple shape vocabulary

   Pick 4 to 6 basic forms to repeat throughout the piece, such as circles, triangles, zigzags, checkerboard blocks, dots, and wavy lines. Keep the forms flat and decorative rather than realistic. If one shape is large and dominant, make the others smaller and more varied to create contrast.

3. 3

   3. Arrange the composition with asymmetry in mind

   Place the biggest shapes off-center, then add smaller forms to counterbalance them on the opposite side. Avoid mirror symmetry; instead, aim for visual rhythm through repetition and spacing. A good test is to step back and see whether the page feels lively and slightly unstable in a controlled way.

4. 4

   4. Use pattern as structure, not decoration only

   Fill some shapes with stripes, dots, checks, or tiny repeating marks so the pattern helps define the object. Let a pattern stop cleanly at the edges of a shape to keep the design crisp. Vary the density of pattern: one busy area can sit next to a plain flat area for stronger contrast.

5. 5

   5. Ink the forms with hard edges

   Trace your final design with a clean, confident outline. Use consistent line weight for a polished graphic feel, or slightly vary it if you want more energy. Make sure all curves, corners, and intersections are deliberate, because rough or sketchy edges can weaken the style unless used very intentionally.

6. 6

   6. Add flat color in clashing bright combinations

   Choose saturated colors that push against each other, such as pink with teal, yellow with black, electric blue with red, or orange with purple. Fill shapes with solid color rather than gradients or painterly blending. The goal is to make the page feel like a bright print or poster, so keep the fills even and opaque.

7. 7

   7. Create graphic shadows and accents

   If you want shadows, make them hard-edged and simplified, like a second flat shape cast behind the object. Place shadows consistently in one direction so the piece still feels organized. Use black or a darker version of your palette sparingly, since too much dark color can overpower the playful look.

8. 8

   8. Refine the negative space and rhythm

   Check whether any areas feel too empty or too crowded, then adjust by moving a small shape, adding a tiny pattern, or enlarging one element. Memphis Design often depends on the push and pull between dense clusters and open breathing room. The final image should feel designed, not accidental, with every shape earning its place.

Going Digital

In digital painting software, work on separate layers for sketch, line art, flat colors, patterns, and shadows so you can edit each part cleanly. Use vector shapes or selection tools for circles, triangles, and blocks, then fill them with solid colors using a hard-edged brush or bucket fill. Keep anti-aliasing under control, avoid soft airbrush shading, and use clipping masks for pattern fills so your edges stay sharp and graphic.

Common Mistakes

FAQ