When you think of the word minimalism, it’s easy to conjure up ideas of simplicity in design, architecture and even in your life. However, minimalism is so much more than simplicity — it’s a thoughtful and deliberate way to showcase elements and do more with less. This design trend is also taking over in both web and print applications. It’s important to understand exactly what minimalism in design is, where it came from, and how you can use it to your benefit.

What Is Minimal Design?

Minimalism has many different definitions.

In art, it’s a school of abstract painting and sculpture focused on simplifying form. Minimalist artists use basic shapes, primary colors, objectivity, and anonymity to create their art. Minimalism in graphic design is more focused on using fewer elements and stripping down websites or print materials to the barest essentials. Minimalism is even a part of music. It’s a school or style of contemporary music that’s also simplified to necessary rhythms, patterns, harmonies and more.

Where Did It Come From?

The principles of minimalism came about in three different time periods that made it a mainstay in today’s world of graphic design and art:

  • De Stijl Art Movement: A Dutch phrase meaning “the style,” this movement between 1917 and the 1930s was minimalism at its core. It was about simple, abstract ideas with primary colors, lines, rectangles and more.
  • Van Der Rohe Architecture: Van Der Rohe was a post-World War I architect who favored minimalism. He used clean lines and plenty of open space when designing.
  • Traditional Japanese Art: The Japanese culture values simplicity, and it shows in their art. Japenese artists make use of minimalism in clothing, pottery and more.

Benefits of Minimalism in Web Design

There are numerous benefits of minimalism in web design, starting with a clear focus. If your website looks too crowded, visitors may not know where to go or feel overwhelmed by the options. Minimalism designs focus on a clear element that you want to make the center of the site, whether that’s a CTA, your logo or a new product.

Minimalism also works well for responsive sites. If you have a lot of elements on a page, it can be difficult to code every part to fit on a mobile device screen. You don’t have to worry about that with minimalism. It also leads to faster loading times, since there are not as many images to slow things down.

Benefits of Minimalism in Print Design

Minimalism in graphic design and print design also has a ton of benefits. Have you designed something one year only to look back on it the next and want to change everything? The great thing about minimalism is that it’s timeless. Something you design will still look on-trend years after you design it.

It’s also easier to create a final product thanks to minimalism. When you have a lot of colors or elements on a page, you have to worry about different colors, bleeds and cuts. With minimalism, you may focus on only primary colors or a monochromatic color scheme. This also helps your design stand out. When you think of a bulletin board with tons of posters, yours will look different thanks to its minimalist look.

If you want to learn more about minimalism in graphic design, web design or print design, contact The NetMen Corp today. We can create a website, packaging, a logo, and more to make all of your minimalist dreams come true.