Less is more: minimalism in web design

In web design term minimalism refers to a niche style in an attempt to achieve an innovative way of incorporating information in website design. Today’s subject of web design agency in Chicago`s narrative is the advantages of a minimalistic approach to web design. Further, we shall explain why the axiom “less is more” is appropriate in web design practice.

What is minimalist web design?

 In the effort to accomplish a good user experience and attractive website many designers nowadays opt for minimalism. Minimalism resembles the simplification and integration of fewer elements in the website. The fundamental principles of this style are abstracting superfluous details and obtaining overall elegancy. Appearance and functionality should not suffer for the sake of the other and must be beheld as a whole, engaging the context. By leaving only essential parts of this model, we manage to focus the user’s attention on desirable features.

An excellent example of minimalistic design is the well-known Google. Google’s design is completely subordinated to its central function which is research. Every aspect of this website is visually excluded except branding. This manner prioritizes the Google search purpose. 

Thighs to consider in designing a minimalist interface are:

• Include only elementary parts

Prioritize preferable points by removing content and elements that don’t support customers’ tasks. This means discarding decorative and other details that don’t have significant importance and might distract the user from performing the intended action. Contain only features that have a purpose and justification in conveying a message. The balance score includes easy navigation paired with relevant content. In that order, pay attention not to making user tasks difficult to perform or hiding important content. The message you intend to send should be clear and not abstract. The key is to sustain just enough visual content that the message will not emerge nether confusing or blurred. 

• Negative space

Since minimalistic design represents a simplification of the interface, it’s reasonable that negative space plays a big role in it. The importance of negative space gives great power and contribution to achieving minimalism. it is considered the “backbone” of minimalist design by many web designers of this style. As empty space appears between elements, correct usage of negative space emphasizes values of existing necessity elements. Although negative space is usually considered white, it doesn’t necessarily have to be white, this is where you can show creativity and energize frontage in minimalistic design. Manipulation with negative space is the opportunity to achieve the aesthetic component of minimalism. Negative space in its function prevents the overwhelming of the final design on visitors. 

• Visual components

Because of the detaching of redundant elements, every detail you decide to leave is vital and has its significance. Establishing a corrected link between all visual components in design is vital. Those components are:

• Texture

In terms of texture, many minimalist designers opt for flat textures. This implies the absence of obvious highlights, shadows, or other attributes to a 3d or glossy look. Flat UI elements accentuate a minimalistic visual hierarchy.

• Effective photography and illustrations

Images provide emotional connection and set atmosphere while being prime and prominent in the minimalistic surroundings. As an important part of the design, pictures have to correspond, support, and suit the overall appearance and follow minimalistic principles. Image overcrowded with elements contrasts and opposes concept, intimidating integrity of minimalistic layout. Vibrant graphics are a way of striking visitors’ attention and emotionally detaching them. 

• Color scheme

Determining the most effective color scheme among infinite possible combinations is challenging. The potential of color in the layout is mindfully exploited. The impressive performance of colors is its ability to make an emotional and psychological link with recipients and place information. A popular choice of minimalistic designers is a single color palette – a monochrome color scheme. Avoiding many visual elements makes the color scheme noticeable and leaves a stronger impression on visitors. 

• Typography

With a limited color scheme, typography stands out as a supreme visual element.  Bold, italic, or colored typography contrasts layout to color and enforces users’ focus on words and content while carrying the meaning of the message. 

• Contrast

The minimalistic approach leaves space for achieving contrast by implementing high-contrast copy or visual elements. Contrast successfully directs user experience to important parts of the website and makes text highly readable by bolding one color or highlighting essential elements. Contrast has its purpose to assist typography and graphics on the screen. 

• Single centered point per screen

The minimalistic principle assumes the centralization of ideas around the content. All other elements should support the content placed in a sturdy area. Single visual around only one content ensures the “one concept per page” rule in minimalism. 

• The top area of the web page

Placing high-value content with enough negative space on the upper of the page. Make important content visible for users without requiring any visitors’ action. This model will ensure grabbing users’ attention and encourage them to take further steps and explore the site. Further, increase content substance as visitor scroll deeper.

• Write firm and concise copy

One of the rules in minimalism relating to copy is the exclusion of needless words. Editing copy to satisfy the bare minimum of words needed to adequately explain the massage is the proposition of minimalism. 

• Navigation

Navigation in a minimalistic approach addresses simple but not hidden navigation. Ensure that visitors can easily and quickly navigate through the website and accomplish tasks without distraction. The popular navigation mode in this style is “intuitive navigation”. Designers often make a mistake and entirely hide navigation or exclude functions. This results in complicated and harder to find of navigation features. Hidden by default options often appear in a minimalistic style for mobile UIs. Permanently visible navigation suits provide a better user experience. 

• Functional animation

Animation in minimalism design also follows the main principles of minimalism and requires only subtle and essential ones. This element of the design has to justify its purpose in functionality, relativity, and reasonableness. The positive effect of animation relates to the dynamic interface of the website and makes tasks more fun to perform. 

• Landing page

Minimalistic model within complex websites can be challenging and even difficult to accomplish. Lack of content information can lead users to scroll endlessly for the content which can be tiring and manifest negatively on user experience. Better admission of minimalism for demanding sites is to create a minimalistic landing page that will lead further to more detailed pages.

Final Thoughts

If properly utilized, a minimalistic mode is a powerful instrument of communication in web design. 

Minimalism assumes that visual complexity negatively affects recipients’ attention and overall user experience. Applied correctly, a minimalistic interface doesn’t leave the impression of being uncompleted. The minimalistic design brings faster loading time and compatibility between screen sizes in different devices. Additional benefits it provides are in simplifying users’ tasks. Conceivably, better user experience upgrades SEO ranking, organic traffic, and conversion.