The Tribune

“Less is more”. We have all heard that saying a thousand times. Amd one of my golden rules has always been: “Less being more.”

This is based on simplicity and clarity, whether designing a logo or merely explaining a phrase. The same holds true for “talking less and listening more” or “being quiet and staying strong”.

It has all worked in my favour. But what does it mean? For website and graphic designers, minimalism can sometimes be intimidating and difficult to master, due to the fact that it is achieved by reducing a design to the most essential elements.

Minimalism is essentially about breaking things down to the barest elements necessary for a design to function. It is about taking things away until nothing else can be removed without interfering with the purpose of the design. Using less to achieve an effect that is more than the sum of the design’s parts is the goal. Here are a number of simplicity principles that can help unclutter a design but still maintain its message.

Remove needless components

Do not include unnecessary elements in your designs. Think of what is necessary for the function of your design, then omit anything that does not directly contribute to the content, function, readability or usability of your design.

Breaking Power

When a design is on the verge of breaking, you know you have achieved the most minimalist design possible. Ensure it is still user-friendly and delivers the experience you want viewers to have.

Every detail counts

In an uncluttered design, every detail has significance. For example, a border around an image, colour palette, white space and every part becomes important to the overall look and feel, especially when the elements are few.

But even if designers view minimalism as ‘one size fits all’, there is still room for different emotions based on individual design elements. For instance, a drawing or logo can easily be funky and modern, fresh and clean, reserved and sophisticated, elegant and refined or anything in between, based solely on its details.

The right palette

Choosing the right palette or accent colours is vital because a simple black, white and/or grey as minimalism has room for any colour in the rainbow. Therefore, pay close attention when choosing colours, because when they interact or network with one another they have the tendency to change course, message or meaning.

Grey is a fundamental design as shades of it are used for backgrounds, text, images and pretty much all other elements.

Combining different-sized fonts is a great way to add visual interest without clutter, and makes for an arresting design. And grey shades take on a cool tone when combined with icy blue also.

White Space

White (or negative) space is the backbone of any simple design. What you leave out of a design is just as important as what you put in. White space is critical to emphasising certain elements because it reduces a cluttered look. Hence filling every space on your design page is not necessary.

Distraction

Is the design fit for purpose? Does it answer the brief? What could I remove that just isn’t needed? I ask myself these questions, especially the last one, a lot. What could the client do without? These are all normal questions to ask as too much “garbage” always increases a distraction to a layout.

Trends

Trends and styles are fashionable but, like bad furniture, they all have their place. The trick is knowing where to place it. Anyone who really knows me recogniaes automatically that I am cluster-phobic. Typically, this phobia not only touches my profession but mirrors my real-world setting as well. It isessential….Need white space…must have air.

It is important to know that a classic and timeless design is almost always more effective and riveting, particularly the spacious ones with the latest bells and whistles. I think Antoine de Saint-Exupery said it best: “You know you’ve achieved perfection in a design, not when you have nothing more to add, but when you have nothing else to take away.” Until we meet again, fill your life with memories rather than regrets. Enjoy life but stay on top of your game.

NB: The columnist welcomes feedback at deedee21bastian@gmail.com

ABOUT THE COLUMNIST: Deidre Marie Bastian is a professionally trained graphic designer/marketing coordinator with qualifications of M.Sc., B.Sc., A.Sc. She has trained at institutions such as: Miami Lakes Technical Centre, Success Training College, College of the Bahamas, Nova South Eastern University, Learning Tree International, Langevine International and Synergy Bahamas.