Minimalism in Design: Can You Be Too Simplistic?

Minimalism in design: can it be too simplistic? Today, Minimalism in graphic design dominates, and almost everyone agrees that this is a good thing. But too much of anything, even simplicity, is not always a good thing.

Today, Minimalism in graphic design dominates. And almost everyone agrees that this is a good thing.

At least most of the time.

After all, who wants to go back to the days of this kind of internet design?

It may be striking and bold, but it’s also garish, ugly, and – most of all – totally confusing.

As digital capabilities for graphic design continue to evolve, designers have generally adopted the age-old Minimalist doctrine that “less is more.”

Or, as the great Leonardo DaVinci once said:

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

What Is Minimalism in Graphic Design?

The keys to Minimalism in graphic design are simplicity, focus, order, harmony, and balance.

One important goal of the graphic designer is to strip away all distracting elements from a design. There is humility in this approach.

The intent is to focus the viewers’ attention exclusively on the subject or product. The less the viewers notice the design itself, the better the work of the designer, and hopefully, the better the design will convert.

The Key Elements of Minimalist Graphic Design

01. Simplicity

Less is more. With fewer items in the design mix, the viewers can better understand the product itself and have their attention guided to the desired goal.

02. Neutrality

Limited use of colors and simple fonts. Bold colors and contrasts are used sparingly, mainly in a way that directs the viewers’ attention to the product.

03. Balance and Harmony

With fewer elements in the design mix, anything inharmonious or out of balance becomes particularly distracting. Minimalist graphic designers use a grid system to ensure that harmony and balance remain essential to their design.

04. Establishing Hierarchy

The goal is to methodically direct the viewers’ eyes to the subject. Composition is used to assign visual priorities, ultimately focusing on the product.

05. White Space

Simple backgrounds help keep the focus on the hierarchy and on the subject itself.

Here is an example of effective Minimalist design.

Source: ad for Ritual Vitamins, created by Jessica Yan.

All the elements of Minimalism are present here. There are very few items in this picture, and they all relate to the product.

There is only a tiny splash of color and only one contrasting element. The composition is balanced and points the viewers’ eyes to the product and the simple slogan, which uses a basic, easy-to-read font.

With only six words of text, the viewers know what this product is and the overall impression is that this product will promote health naturally.

The Pitfalls and Limitations of Minimalist Design

Minimalism is the default style in digital graphic design. But in practice, Minimalism is not always appropriate.

Minimalism has become a dogma. Some believe that it has even taken on moralistic overtones, that an affinity for Minimalism is a signal of moral superiority, and it is sometimes employed without a real marketing purpose.

When Minimalism becomes dogma, it misses the point and can, at times, actually impede the effective and attractive presentation of a brand or product.

To be effective, Minimalism must be executed properly, and it should only be used when it is the most effective style option.

Some common objections to, limitations of, and possible misapplications of Minimalism are beginning to emerge.

When You Should Avoid a Dogmatic Minimalistic Approach

It’s important for designers to understand the pitfalls of being too simplistic or Minimalist in your design approach:

Minimalism can entirely miss the mark.

Some products are complex. Naturally, consumers of those products will want to understand that complexity. Whenever the consumer needs detailed content, too much simplicity is insufficient.

Some brands simply require a different style.

There are times when a brand is so personal that it necessitates the kind of detail that Minimalism wants to reject. For example, many fashion brands want to appear exciting and brash to a particular audience, not merely “simple.”

Some markets just won’t respond to Minimalism.

Elegance, sophistication, beauty, simplicity. These design elements are not necessarily for everybody. Some audiences prefer a creative edge and won’t respond to design that is too simple.

Minimalism can overlook exciting new design trends.

Recent styles that don’t always conform to Minimalist criteria are Abstract Psychedelia and Fine Art Infusion, among others. User-Centered Design is a very strong design trend in the tech industry

Some of the criticisms of Minimalism are not so much about the theory but how Minimalism is actually practiced.

Common Misapplications of Minimalism

Design that does not convey a strong, clear message
Simplicity to the point of vagueness that leaves a visitor confused about navigating a site, the opposite of Minimalist intent
Design that lacks interest or is just boring
Overuse of simplicity that leaves a weak impression and makes the product easily forgettable
Lazy work that is rationalized to be Minimalist under the mantra of “less is more”

For example:

Who is this logo for? What industry is this company in? What do they sell? Is this even remotely interesting?

To the points above, Minimalists are quick to counter that other design styles tend to suffer from too much clutter and distraction. It is a point well-taken.

But Minimalists have pitfalls to avoid as well, and doing Minimalism right takes dedication, training, skill, and yes, sophistication.