# Retro Robotic Renderings Michael Murdock Replicates Vintage Invention Illustrations By Kevin Young | Published 2012-05-02 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/michael-murdock References: [visualnews](http://www.visualnews.com/2012/05/01/robots-and-ray-guns-from-the-retro-future/) & [sabordesigns](http://sabordesigns.com/) These Michael Murdock illustrations looks like a geeky scientist's book of inventions from the 1950s. Created by Murdock from Sabor Design Studios, these great, [retro-looking designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stellar) depict pages of lost inventions with extreme concepts such as Atomic freeze blasting ray guns, robots, rocket ships and R2D2-like machines. Along with each illustration is a detailed note section about the design's use and function. Murdock's worn out yellowish brown paper portrays a vintage look, with blotchy black smudges that only enhance the old school feel. Michael Murdock creates crafty mid-century depictions through his passion for drawing and sketching, specializing in illustrations, design, motion graphics and art prints. His use of [pencil sketch and dark contours](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drawing-series) projects the free-drawing feel that make the art work look like a skilled doodle, as if from a dedicated artist sketching away. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.4/10 - Popularity: 40% | Activity: 25% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Retro-inspired Design:** There is an opportunity for designers and artists to create retro-inspired designs to appeal to those seeking nostalgia and a vintage aesthetic. - **Retro-futuristic Inventions:** The combination of retro and futuristic elements in designs, such as Murdock's illustrations, can inspire creativity and new ideas for innovative inventions. - **Hand-drawn Illustrations:** The use of hand-drawn illustrations can add a unique, artistic feel to designs and marketing materials, providing an opportunity for talented artists and illustrators. ### Who This Affects Most - **Graphic Design:** Graphic designers can utilize the retro-inspired and hand-drawn design trends to create visually stunning and creative projects for clients. - **Toy and Game Design:** Toy and game designers can draw inspiration from the retro-futuristic invention trend to create unique and innovative products for consumers. - **Print and Digital Media:** Print and digital media companies can incorporate hand-drawn illustrations into their designs to add a unique and artistic touch to their products and attract a wider audience. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Retro Space-Themed Puzzled Posters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/john-carter.md) - [Motion Liquid Art Distortions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lidris.md) - [Nostalgic Desktop Computer Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/macintosh-computer-concept.md) - [80s-Inspired 16-Bit Display Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/16bit-display.md) - [Anamorphic Fuzzy Glowing Vessels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alien-vases.md) - [Rad Retro-Style Smartwatches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/retrofuture-wrist-tech.md) - [Analog Nostalgia Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/back-to-basics-ii.md) - [Sci-Fi-Inspired Classical Posters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sen-donnan.md) - [Laser-Cut Urban Artistry](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/laser-cut-city-maps.md)