Is less more (in terms of design)?

Is less more (in terms of design)?

Is less more (in terms of design)? In my opinion it depends on what the designer is going for. If a designer wants their viewer to stop and figure out or interpret the designers meaning then a designer may want to lean towards the more is better motto. Designing is kinda like cooking. You have to have the right amount in order to be successful. Other wise your dish/design will be to overbearing.

If a designer wants their viewer to be informed of something then, yes I do think less is more. For example, if a designer wants the viewer to learn or be informed of something then the less distractions the better. Also in today’s society everyone is in such a hurry that if a design is to busy it may go unnoticed. Oh yea, I am sure it would get glanced at but not very many people have the time to sit and figure something out for very long.

An example from our text of someone who believes in space with in a design is, Herbert Horne found on pages 172 and 173. Figure 10-14 on page 173 shows his use of letter “…spacing and alignment…” along with his use of negative and positive space. In my opinion it and figure 10-12 are much more pleasing to look at. The others on this page are harder to figure out.

Personally I favor the “less is more” motto when it comes to design. Because when a design gets to busy it gets complicated or cluttered. And unless you are someone who wants life a little more complicated and cluttered than it already is; I would suggest the “less is more” motto to any designer. In the long run it makes the designer and the viewers life that much more calming.

So, next time you designers are cooking up your next design throw a little dash of spices/principles into your creativity. Try using some gestalt principles to minimize your design for its full potential. One book that I suggest everyone purchase is the "graphic design basics" book by Amy E. Arntson.

Misty J Slavens