Less is More
Dalton Vanhooser - Monday, September 14, 2009
Throughout the eighties and nineties, graphic design
was overloaded with heavy neon color, grunge collage, and intense imagery. The definition of “modern” changes with each
generation, the design molding to the likes of the culture. What was modern and “hip” in the previous
decades no longer applies in this day and age, or at least as heavily. Each new decade carries over qualities from
the previous decades, but they adapt into their own sense of creativity. Minimalism has been in design for decades,
but it has become a dominant form in this generation.
Minimalism is usually dominated by white, with hints of black, and a highlight of a single other color. Perhaps in spite of the overindulgence of the previous generations, bringing about simpler designs seems more practical and attractable. Thin lines, white space, but effective layout and alignments help bring simple pieces to life. Next time you enter a fancy restaurant or sushi joint, you will notice the simplistic menus (as long as they are not necessarily following the cultural aspect of the food). These are more appealing to the eye, because the lack of overwhelming imagery gives direction and allows the eye to follow any piece in a comfortable, efficient way.
Minimalistic design is particularly effective in copy-heavy and vehicle-driven (no pun intended) media, in which the design allows the copy or car to be the center of attention, with nothing to distract, but merely accentuate. Minimalism is also economically sound, allowing for print jobs to be produced cheaper (less colors, less money). Although simple, the design itself can be complicated to pull off effectively, so designers beware before committing to the style in a piece. Despite its popularity, not all projects call for this particular design, so never discount other design styles that can be just as creative and efficient.
Minimalism is usually dominated by white, with hints of black, and a highlight of a single other color. Perhaps in spite of the overindulgence of the previous generations, bringing about simpler designs seems more practical and attractable. Thin lines, white space, but effective layout and alignments help bring simple pieces to life. Next time you enter a fancy restaurant or sushi joint, you will notice the simplistic menus (as long as they are not necessarily following the cultural aspect of the food). These are more appealing to the eye, because the lack of overwhelming imagery gives direction and allows the eye to follow any piece in a comfortable, efficient way.
Minimalistic design is particularly effective in copy-heavy and vehicle-driven (no pun intended) media, in which the design allows the copy or car to be the center of attention, with nothing to distract, but merely accentuate. Minimalism is also economically sound, allowing for print jobs to be produced cheaper (less colors, less money). Although simple, the design itself can be complicated to pull off effectively, so designers beware before committing to the style in a piece. Despite its popularity, not all projects call for this particular design, so never discount other design styles that can be just as creative and efficient.
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