We have probably heard about minimalism now more than ever before. Let's dive deep into the world of minimalist designs for the web.

What is Minimalism?

Minimalism is all about simplicity. It is the practice of retaining the essentials and stripping away the distractions. Its all about modernism and based on the concept of 'less is more'.

Minimalism for the web

Minimalism in user interface design is about using fewer elements, design features, flat design and moving away from the traditional design approach while retaining the functional aspects of the design. Many social networking apps, websites and the like are being redesigned to suit a more minimal approach while making no compromise on the functionality. To achieve this, they are resorting to removing gradients and replacing them with flat colors, elimination bright, flashy colors and redesigning the icons to be more abstract and such other practices. 

Minimalism conveys the meaning of simplicity, about doing more with less. It aims to do away with clutter and bring in simplification. This helps to make the navigation smooth and effortless. In minimalism, it is key to ensure that no element overpowers another. Establishing harmony is one of the most essential aspects of this practice. For example: If your illustration has to be the star of the space, then perhaps you could mellow down on the typography and other elements on the page and vice versa. Striking a balance between the elements is vital in minimalist design. 

It is quite fun to experiment with minmal design but you will have to be careful not to go too overboard with the styling. Remember, the simpler its is the better. You can experiment with imagery, fonts, illustrations and colors to produce a simple, beautiful visual output. Don't be afraid to use white space in your minimal design, use it wisely to unclutter your design and shift it towards a more minimal outcome.

Minimalism should not be mistaken for being less creative, it requires the same mental-effort that is required when producing a non-minimal design. Minimalism helps shift the focus on the things that matter and helps to build more uncomplicated, straight-forward and undemanding designs for your web pages, apps etc. With minimalism comes a minimal color palette, so restrict yourself to using a small number of colors and a limited number of font styles. 

So, go ahead and experiment with minimal design for your next project and change the way you approach design!