Minimalism - a movement in contemporary art that emerged as an extension of modernism towards the end of the 1950s. Here the formula is "Less is more". In web design, minimalism is achieved by removing unnecessary elements. The focus is on good user experience and site functionality. The goal is to focus the user's attention on the essentials.
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
He was a German architect, educator and the last head of the Bauhaus school in Germany. It was he who created a style - clean and simple, also known as minimalism. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is generally known for his aphorism "Less is more". He used glass, stomach and wide spaces to create his minimalist interiors. The use of clean lines and properly spaced rectangular shapes contribute to a sense of orderliness. This is also the root of minimalism in web design - more freedom in space and concentration on the essentials.
In web design, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's wide spaces are the white spaces. This is the empty space between the user interface elements. The bigger the white space around an element, the more it stands out.
Minimalism and its advantages
- Easier to read: the use of blank spaces contributes to the ease of reading a text, as there is no crowding of elements. In this way, the eyes rest and the users reach your brand message;
- easier navigation through the site: when the volume of information is reduced and only the important elements of the site structure are left, an information hierarchy is achieved. It helps users to find their way around;
- More user movement on the site: another advantage is helped by the empty space, namely user targeting. By applying it correctly, one can arrange the elements of the site in a way that directs users;
- Better mobile performance: a clean and simple design is a necessity for the mobile version of your website;
- Faster site: if images are large and heavy, they load pages and make them load slowly. This is where minimalist design comes in;
- good SEO: a clean and simple design would cover many of the search engines' requirements for site speed;
Apart from being beautiful, thanks to its elements placed in a precise location, the minimalist design enhances the user experience. This will contribute to positive results on the spread of your brand or service.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org