Getting rid of, erasing the superfluous. In design, this is the main characteristic of minimalism. In this article, we will introduce you to this omnipresent movement in objects, interiors and currents of thought in this field. Minimalism should not be seen as reducing functionality, but as a tool for facilitating understanding and placing use at the heart of the object.

Minimalism, masculine noun ;

1. A school of painting that reduces the elements of a painting to a minimum;

2. Extreme simplification (of a decoration, of a way of proceeding);

3. Lifestyle consisting of limiting possessions and consumption.

LeRobert Dictionary

Apparition

Part of contemporary art, Minimalism made its appearance in the 1960s. The antithesis of pop art, with its figurative and ironic traits, it inherits from modernism and therefore from the Bauhaus. A school of architecture and applied arts founded in 1919 in Weimar, Germany by Walter Gropius. Today, the Bauhaus legacy is omnipresent in the modern world. A way of thinking and designing that endures.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, director of the Bauhaus from 1930 to 1933, is "less is more", a Bauhaus leitmotif. Subtract the superfluous from the functional.

The BAUHAUS school building; Walter Gropius (Founder); Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (Director from 1930 to 1933)

Minimalism continued on its path, gaining strength and taking its place in a changing world. Dieter Rams, head of design at Braun from 1961 to 1995, explained his design with a phrase close to that of Ludwig Mies, "less but better". This phrase took on new meaning when Dieter Rams evoked his 10 principles of "good design".

Dieter Rams' 10 principles of good design

1. Innovative; For Dieter Rams, innovation in terms of design is never-ending, as technological developments continue to evolve. These developments offer an opportunity for constant innovation in this sector and give "good design" the chance to constantly improve by integrating these changes.

2. Useful; The primary objective of a designer is to give an object a function, a utility. Having studied the practicality of an object, the designer must also respond to its psychological and aesthetic characteristics. In the interests of minimalism, these objects must do away with all superfluous features.

3. Aesthetic; An object that has been properly designed will have a recognised aesthetic appeal. A parameter which will remain an integral part of the utility by the psychological character of a beautiful object on its user.

4. Understandable; "Good design" must offer a product structure that can be understood by all types of user. Intuitive use, without instructions, is its very essence.

5. Unobstrusive; In an information-rich environment. An object, a useful thing, must be discreet. Offering the user a space for expression, inducing the user to take ownership of the object. These tools don't waste time on illogical aesthetics.

6. Honest: we look for honesty in people, and why not in an object? A product that doesn't lie about its roots, a "good design" that doesn't try to manipulate or usurp the user.

7. long lasting; A properly designed object must go against the tide of consumerism. It must not give way to the ephemeral and subjective nature of fashion. A well-designed object is generally recognisable by the tendency of users to keep it, without being carried away by the influence of consumerism, which leads to easily disposable products.

8. Exhaustive; Considered an absolute by Dieter Rams, the exhaustiveness of an object is seen in its details. The precision with which details must be treated shows respect for the user. Anything less would be seen as disrespect for the user.

9. Ecological; A forgotten characteristic of this era. Dieter Rams sees his designs as inherent to the planet. They must therefore respect it throughout their entire life cycle, so the value of perpetuation comes into play.

10. Minimalist; For Dieter Rams, Ludwig's "less is more", which is all too often displayed in this world, differs from his "less but better" paradigm, which extols the merits of objects of great purity, simplicity and practicality.

"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away". Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. This minimalist consciousness has been around for some time. But to date it has never had so much impact or strength. We see this trend on a daily basis, often exercised by major brands such as Apple and their simplistic designs, Ikea and their Scandinavian furniture where use is the primary reason for the furniture's existence, and Monoprix, which presents its products in packaging stripped of useless but powerful information.

Minimalism in your home?

While reading the first part of this article, did you look around you and wonder what's minimalist about your surroundings?

It's actually quite simple. Think of the cast-iron pot in your cupboard, the old appliance that "miraculously" still works! The armchairs, wardrobes... that have stood still for 1 century. That's what minimalism is all about. Before being something devoid of the superfluous, it's an object that you'll never throw away (never say never, but in this case we'll allow ourselves). Durable materials, perfect assembly, correctly defined functions.

Today, we recognise a movement towards minimalism in our philosophy of life. Consume less, consume better. However, despite the drab, no-nonsense image of minimalism, it's the exact opposite. Devoid of all external excitement, a minimalist environment will help you develop your creative sense and your desire to discover others. At the opposite end of the spectrum from consumerism, this environment, devoid of useless information, will be enhanced by light and noble materials; noble does not mean simply expensive or rare, this chosen term should evoke respectful materials that do not over-consume energy... ;

Recipe for a warm, minimalist interior:

- The bare essentials

- Clean lines

- A monochromatic colour palette

- A combination of different textures and shades

- Integration of textiles

In a minimalist interior, functionalism should be the watchword, with efficient, well-thought-out storage units. We also look for ways to integrate these storage units, such as doors with discreet openings. There are no rules to follow for this style of interior; you simply have to feel the limits of minimalism. You need to decorate it with flowers, pictures, whatever you like!

To conclude…

Minimalism, the symbol of product design, is woven into our everyday lives. People like Dieter Rams and Ludwig Mies have given a real identity, a real meaning, a real characteristic to these "minimal" things. The minimalist philosophy of life is in tune with the society we know. It's a world where over-consumption has to stop and we have to make room for what's necessary, without necessarily restricting ourselves and living with nothing!

Furniture today is an eclectic world in which many things are bad. That's why it's essential these days to turn to furniture with simple shapes (which means less material consumption) and sourced, eco-friendly materials. Minimalism also has an impact on a product's lifecycle, by eliminating the unnecessary and giving it an "all-round" character that will enable the object to survive the test of time without going out of fashion (a term that is very "consumer" but very evocative of this system).

Minimalism is different for everyone, and so is the degree to which it fits into everyday life. So what about you? Are you a minimalist?