Mid-Century Modern is a major movement in interior, product, graphic design, and architecture that became prominent in the post-World War II era, roughly from the mid-1940s to the early 1970s. The term was popularized by author Cara Greenberg in her 1984 book, Mid-Century Modern: Furniture of the 1950s . Growing out of earlier movements like the Bauhaus and Streamline Moderne , this style adapted modernist principles for the new, optimistic consumer society of the post-war years.

This building style was most prominent in the 1950s and 1960s, during the U.S.'s post–World War II economic expansion. It overlapped during this time with futuristic aesthetics such as Space Age /Atomic Age and Raygun Gothic .

MCM remained popular until the early 1970s, when the 1973 oil crisis and economic recession occurred. Designs began to favor convenience over Mid-Century lavishness, leading to the Earth Tones aesthetic and the "used future" look of Supergraphic Ultramodern . Companies that regularly built their locations in the Googie/Mid-Century style (such as Burger Chef and Mammoth Mart) began to change their brand image, and turned to more traditional building styles and logos.

The aesthetic is defined by its emphasis on functionality, clean lines, and a seamless integration of indoor and outdoor spaces, often achieved through large windows and open-plan layouts. It is characterized by a combination of simple, geometric shapes with gentle, organic curves and a distinct lack of ornamentation. The movement celebrated the innovative use of new materials like plastic, fiberglass, and aluminum alongside traditional materials like wood, as seen in the iconic furniture of designers like Charles and Ray Eames.

In terms of building architecture for a commercial property such as a retail store or a restaurant, it is common for Mid-Century Modern buildings to have ceilings which are either flat or pitched in a triangle shape. This is almost always paired with a front entrance that is mostly comprised of large glass panels. Neon signage was also a common factor around this time, with large companies and franchises opening locations that featured all three of these design choices.