Less is More...

If one can express the same idea by using fewer words, why use more? If one’s design objective can be achieved by using fewer elements, why use more? I am the kind of person who likes the idea that “less is more”. I feel that this principle helps my design to be more universal and targets a larger audience. So what is the concept of “less is more”? It is minimalism, which is used to describe a design trend of expressing the same design idea by using only basic elements. This trend is influenced by the traditional designs of Japanese artists. For example, a traditional Japanese living room is simple compared with a Western living room.

However, the idea of “less is more” is not the same as the concept of “the less the better”. Instead it has to do with doing “more with less”. The key idea of “less is more” is that each element of a design needs to serve multiple visual and functional purposes. There are no unnecessary elements in a minimalistic design. By doing this, the viewer can focus on the important features of the design. For example, the Gucci logo design contains no other colors except black. It does not have any complex shapes but merely contains relatively simple geometrical shapes. The simplicity of this logo illustrates the elegant image of Gucci. A successful design is a design that compels the viewer to focus on what really matters. The viewer has no choice but to pay full attention to the core message of the design. In this way, the viewer will have a deeper impression of the design and understand better the key elements of the particular design. “Less is more” is always the goal I try to achieve in each piece of my design project.