Revisiting 90s UI Design in Cinema

The 90s were an absolute goldmine for unforgettable tech design—both in our everyday gadgets and in the movies we loved.

Who could forget Jurassic Park’s wild and cluttered computer screens, where nested windows and pixelated icons ruled the day?

It might’ve looked chaotic, but it had charm, didn’t it?

And let’s be honest, we’ve all got a soft spot for the kind of UI you’d see in Hackers or The Net—neon text, spinning 3D objects, and interfaces that looked like they were made for aliens rather than humans.

Back then, every screen was a mystery, a puzzle waiting to be solved.

Sure, they make us laugh now, but these early designs were the scrappy pioneers of the sleek digital landscapes we live in today.

Whether it was Windows 95 teaching us the joys (and horrors) of multitasking or the gaudy gradient-filled menus of old video games, these designs were pure 90s magic.

They weren’t just building the digital world—they were carving out a whole new vibe. Let’s break it down: what worked, what didn’t, and why the 90s still hold a peculiar charm.

What Worked: Creativity in Constraints

In the 90s, pixels were a rare commodity. Designers had to make every single one count.

This era forced a level of ingenuity that’s easy to admire. Icons were meticulously crafted, menus packed dense with information, and screens designed to do a lot with very little.

In Hackers (1995), the interfaces took layering to a whole new level—nested menus, endless windows, and chaotic overlays all mashed together to give the impression of complex, high-stakes hacking.

Everything felt like it was happening in one place, but just stacked and scattered across the screen, as though the interface itself was trying to keep up with the adrenaline of the characters.

This layering wasn’t just functional (or sometimes dysfunctional); it was a deliberate aesthetic choice that screamed 90s tech culture—bold, frenetic, and unapologetically over the top.

Jurassic Park’s control room interface, for instance, took a more subdued but realistic approach, using nested menus to keep everything organised in one place, layered in a way that mirrored the practical chaos of real-world systems.

Efficient? Maybe. A visual feast? Absolutely. The takeaway? Working within constraints can force creative solutions. It’s the same reason modern minimalism succeeds—it thrives on discipline. Here’s the thing: users in the 90s had no idea what “good” UI looked like. We were all stumbling around in the dark with Windows 3.1, accepting laggy dropdown menus and colour schemes that could burn your retinas.

At the time, PCs hadn’t yet reached the masses, giving designers free rein to go wild with onscreen interfaces.

User journeys weren’t a priority—designers focused on cramming every imaginable function onto the screen instead. While Jurassic Park’s fictional system is a prime example of this, others deserve a mention.

It’s clear that some producers in the 90s were ahead of the curve, opting to ramp up authenticity by incorporating real hardware and software into their films with minimal UI alterations.

This approach grounded the tech in a way that resonated with audiences, adding a layer of realism that still holds up today.

A great example is the use of USENET in Mission: Impossible (1996), where the interface wasn’t overly exaggerated or glammed up for Hollywood.

Instead, it mirrored the genuine look and feel of mid-90s internet tools, giving viewers a glimpse of the tech as it actually was—functional, utilitarian, and relatable to anyone who’d ever used it.

It was a rare but effective choice that made the tech an integral, believable part of the story.

Why We Love It: Nostalgia and Quirkiness

So, why does this kind of design still hold a place in our hearts? It’s not just nostalgia—it’s character.

Today’s clean, sterile UIs often lack the personality of 90s design.

Back then, you could look at a screen and know what era it came from. Jurassic Park’s interface wasn’t perfect, but it was bold, opinionated, and unashamedly itself.

It was cinema. There’s something to be said for designs that stand out, even if they’re a bit clunky.

Modern designers can take a page out of the 90s playbook: Don’t shy away from personality in favour of perfection. As fun as it is to look back, we’ve come a long way. Today, we don’t have to choose between style and usability—tools like Figma and principles like user-centred design have given us the best of both worlds.

But looking back at the 90s reminds us to embrace creativity, push boundaries, and sometimes take risks.

So next time you’re sketching out a design, ask yourself: Is it usable? But also… is it cool?

Because as much as we love to roast 90s UIs, there’s something timeless about designing with personality.

Even if it means a few dinosaurs break loose.

Bonus!

The following movies have been approved as certified 90s UI and VR cheese. Why not have a tubular time and binge-watch these if you're in a tech kinda mood?

1. Jurassic Park (1993)

• The iconic UNIX system interface ("I know this!") and its clunky 3D file navigation. Nested windows and chaotic layouts were peak 90s.

2. Hackers (1995)

• Neon, 3D graphics, spinning objects—this movie defined Hollywood's idea of what hacking should look like, complete with over-the-top interfaces.

3. The Net (1995)

• Sandra Bullock’s character navigates a maze of fake-looking computer systems and chat windows, showcasing the fear of digital identity theft.

4. Johnny Mnemonic (1995)

• A dystopian future where cybernetic implants and digital interfaces are everywhere. Data visualization and hacking sequences were bizarre yet fascinating.

5. Independence Day (1996)

• Earth’s tech vs. alien UI. Special mention to Jeff Goldblum’s use of a laptop to upload a virus to an alien mothership.

6. Mission: Impossible (1996)

• Ethan Hunt’s disavowal sequence is a masterclass in spy UI: scrolling text, red alert warnings, and overly dramatic email systems.

7. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

• The Terminator’s heads-up display (HUD) is filled with cryptic red text and data. A perfect example of early sci-fi UI design.

8. Enemy of the State (1998)

• Surveillance tech and UI everywhere, from tracking systems to grainy satellite feeds. The paranoia of digital systems is palpable.

9. Sneakers (1992)

• A classic heist film featuring password-cracking interfaces, data streams, and plenty of "how does this work?" moments.

10. Starship Troopers (1997)

• Military interfaces and propaganda videos with exaggeratedly clunky designs, filled with bold text and harsh colour schemes.

11. Virtuosity (1995)

• Virtual reality meets murder. The UI is all about trippy VR aesthetics and digital chaos.

12. Disclosure (1994)

• The VR interface used for file browsing (and dramatic data discovery) is hilariously clunky but ambitious for the time.

13. Strange Days (1995)

• The movie’s "playback" UI shows people reliving others' experiences in a very raw, immersive way. Early hints of VR.

14. GoldenEye (1995)

• Bond’s gadgets feature chunky UIs, and let’s not forget the famous "satellite interface" from Boris's chaotic work environment.

15. The Lawnmower Man (1992)

• Psychedelic VR graphics that are so bad they’re good. The movie’s entire premise hinges on its bizarre tech designs.