Minimalism is achieved by reducing a design to only the most essential elements. Expressions of minimalism span multiple disciplines, as well as other art forms such as music and literature. For website designers, though, minimalism can be intimidating and difficult to master.
But anyone can master minimalism. Essentially, minimalism is about breaking things down to the barest elements necessary for a design to function. It’s about taking things away until nothing else can be removed without interfering with the purpose of the design. Below are a number of principles of minimalist design, as well as an exploration of current trends and additional examples.
Less Is More
“Less is more” is probably the most well-known catch phrase of the minimalist movement. It was popularized by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in describing the minimalist aesthetic.
In Web design, less is more is achieved by using only elements that are necessary to a given design. Using less to achieve an effect that’s more than the sum of the design’s parts is the goal.
Examples
North Kingdom
Simple, straightforward typography and a bare use of color make for a design that’s aesthetically pleasing but minimal.
Your Neighbors
Another simple design, this one with many more graphics.
Omit Needless Things
In their book The Elements of Style, Strunk and White coined the phrase “Omit needless words.” It has been adapted to minimalist philosophy as, “Omit needless things.” In other words, don’t include unnecessary elements in your designs.
Think of what’s necessary to the content and function of your website. Then focus on only those things, and omit anything that doesn’t directly contribute to either the content or function. Remember, though, that certain design and graphical elements will directly affect the readability or usability of your website.
Examples
up&onward
A simple gray background, white borders around the images and simple typography are the minimum elements necessary for this page. If any were removed, the website would not have the impact that it does.
Lachlan Bailey
A single image and vertical navigation are as simple as it gets.
Subtract Until It Breaks
When crafting an extremely minimalist design, try subtracting elements until the design stops working the way it should. When the website is on the verge of breaking, you know you’ve achieved the most minimalist design possible.
Remember that “breaks” is relative in design. Technical functionality is only one way to gauge whether something is broken. Usability considerations are equally important. Make sure your website is still user-friendly and delivers the experience you want visitors to have.
Examples
Anothercompany
A minimalist design with a single-column body and three-column footer. If any element was removed, the website would be less user-friendly.
Brett Arthur Photo
Another great example of using a minimum of elements.
Every Detail Counts
In a minimalist design, every detail has significance. What you choose to leave in is vital. A border around an image, the color palette, the white space, every part becomes important to the overall look and feel of the website when the elements are few.
Think of the feeling you want your website to give visitors, and then decide on the details that would impart that feeling. While many designers view minimalism as one size fits all, there is still room for different emotions based on individual design elements. A minimalist website can easily be funky and modern, fresh and clean, reserved and sophisticated, elegant and refined, or anything in between, based solely on its details.
Examples
Kha Hoang
The effect of the details here—circles, gray box, red typography—definitely add up to a lot more than the sum of the individual parts.
Ryan Willms
The spacing and arrangement of content here, along with the elegant typography and simple lines, make for a fresh design.
Color Minimally
Color takes on added significance in a minimalist design. Choosing the right palette or accent colors is vital. Many designers opt for a simple black, white and/or gray palette, but minimalism has room for any color in the rainbow.
Like details, color becomes critical with fewer elements. Pay attention to the meanings of the colors you choose and how they interact with one another.
Examples
Pixelbot Webdesign
Bright colors stand out against this otherwise black-and-white design.
Deartoy
Another simple design with colored accents.
Nation
Another colorful website with a great palette.
White Space Is Vital
White (or negative) space is the backbone of any minimalist design. What you leave out of a design is just as important as what you put in. White space is critical to emphasizing certain elements over others.
White space “makes” a design minimalist to a large extent. Without it, you’d end up with a grid design or grunge or some other style that’s not truly minimalist.
Examples
52 Weeks of UX
Filling every column on the page is not necessary, as evidenced here on the 52 Weeks of UX website.
Rikcat Industries
Ample space between elements keeps this website from feeling cluttered.
The full article is found on the Smashing Magazine Web Site
