Examples of minimalist designs
Websites such as Apple (yes, a very overused example but still one of the best) use exactly what is needed and no more. This works very well for their main target audience who will be tech savvy and do not need much guidance around the website. There are two simple calls to action, an enticing image, a catchy title, the menu and nothing else to distract the user from the product.Brands such as Snapchat, Instagram, Shell, Microsoft Windows and Mercedes (to name but a few) have gradually reduced and refined their logos over the years. This has not meant changing the core of the logo, but simply stripping away elements which are or have become redundant. The example below demonstrates how the Microsoft Windows logo has gradually become more minimal. Now it is just a simple four rectangles, using one colour and a perspective angle to give the effect of a window. Interestingly they appear to have gone full circle with similarities to their original logo over 30 years ago, but I guess they do say that fashion is cyclical!Photo credit: blogs.msdn.microsoft.com
Pros
- Places emphasis on content. Minimalism allows us, as designers, to place emphasis on the content which promotes good UX so that the user can easily access what they are looking for.
“Good design is obvious, great design is transparent” – Joe Sparano, Design Lecturer
- Works well for responsiveness. If you are creating a website or updating an existing one, it is important to understand the advantages of a design which is not only optimised for both mobile and desktop viewing but should also address the mobile designs first – or at the very least run the two designs side by side. A minimal design will usually adapt more smoothly and consistently to different screen sizes than a website design that has more complex elements.
“More websites are now loaded on smartphones and tablets than on desktop computers, a milestone that underlines how computing is rapidly shifting to mobile devices and which threatens companies reliant on traditional PCs. Statcounter, a research company that tracks internet use across 2.5m websites, said 51.3pc of pages were loaded on mobile devices in October, the first time they have surpassed desktop and laptop computers.“ – James Titcomb, Daily Telegraph
- Keeps loading times down. When there are fewer elements on a page it will load quicker. This means far better UX and lower bounce rates, so you can keep visitors exploring your website and engaging with your brand. This is even more pertinent with mobile usage increasing due to generally slower internet speeds on mobile.
- Does not date quickly. Trends change very quickly so if you base a design on the trends of the time it may well age quicker than a more minimalist approach. Keeping the focus on the content means it can be updated very easily to maintain the attention for the user and improve those all important return visit rates.
- More attention grabbing. Picture a supermarket shelf full of products. Mostly these are a sea of competing colours, fonts and logos. If one product has minimal content and makes good use of space then its packaging will create a void in the sea of packaging, therefore drawing the eye to itself.
- Versatile. Minimalism works well with elements from other styles and trends. Small elements can be added to an overall minimalist design to give it some personality and individuality to compliment your brand identity.