Is less more?

Is less more in terms of design? I believe it depends on the purpose of the artwork, although for the most part I believe it is true that less is more. As it was discussed in class, in the west we try to fill the page. We see a blank space and it urges us to fill it with something. On the other hand, we have, for example the Japanese, they leave empty spaces in their work, and it is designed well. It is easy to look at and it is appealing to the eye.

If a designer wants the viewer to stop and study the piece of work, or if there is a deeper meaning behind the piece, the artist may want to make it more complex. If a designer can get his or her point across with only a couple shapes or words, then why should one fill that space up? The artist may want the viewer to take one look at the piece and know exactly what it is representing. We are taught in our design classes that simplicity is the best way to go. When a design is so simple it also allows the viewer to spend time to focus on the essential features of the design.

Personally, I believe less is more. I like to look at the simplicity of a design and study the relationships between the shapes, the shapes the negative spaces make, or what the meaning of the piece is. All in all, in terms of design, less is more.