MINIMALISSIMO EDITED
For the most talented, successful designers in the industry, art is the secret ingredient that takes their work to the next level. Art is that little extra. Art is the personality infused into a piece of design or communication. Art is what sets it apart.
– Tobias van Schneider
What's happening?
It's been a minute. And I don't really know why. But I'm making some time to write this as a year-end letter and to send you some festive well-wishes. I'm looking forward to dialling it in from today and taking a week to switch off from work and side projects, but rest assured, minimal designs will continue to be published on the site, albeit at a slightly reduced volume. I know you're probably getting bombarded with seasonal newsletter emails this week. Even I am, and I like to think my subscriptions are fairly well managed and, well, minimal. So bear with me.
Curating the site this year has been a lot of fun for me. Manu and I discussed a bunch of ideas and we even introduced some new types of experimental features, such as our applied design and the architects series, which we'll continue to populate going forward. The latter being a great way to rediscover architectural projects from the past. We've always offered a mixture of designs that have aged well from decades ago with modern design that excites us. More recently, however, I've been really drawn to design of the 60s and 70s and even the 90s. You might have noticed this in recent weeks and I'm going to continue this kind of research in 2023. I've always maintained that curation is about taste, not about being first or showcasing the most.
So as this wild year comes to a close, I hope you make some time to slow down, reflect on the good, the bad, and the beautiful, and bring some positive energy into the new year. In the meantime, enjoy some of much loved minimal design of the past month.
– Carl
Features
DUTCH APPLIED DESIGN
Every country produces exceptional designers while some countries offer particular approaches to design with renowned craftsmanship and special materials. As part of our applied design series, we look at a selection of works of Dutch designers spanning a range of topics within the spectrum of minimalism.
VARIA VS3 GRINDER
One for the minimalist coffee connoisseur, the Varia VS3 (Varia Stepless 38mm) Electric Grinder utilises a sloped geometry with a 76.5° acute angle. Using this geometry also allows for ideal zero retention conditions as well as a better workflow in relation to adding coffee to the hopper, making grind adjustments, and 180° access to the dosing cup.
AN IMPROBABLE FUTURE
The Instagram project (@an_impropbable_future) focuses on retro-futuristic visions of Industrial Design and Transportation Design using text-to-image generation. Inspired by the past, present, and potential of the future—heavily influenced by brands and products that have resonated over the past 40 years.
MARTINEZ
Designed by Albert Tidy Arquitectos, the project was commissioned by a young couple for a weekend house at the Aculeo lagoon, near Santiago. The lot is part of the division of a sloping site, on the southern side of a hill with a view of the lagoon from the top. The house, then, is like an observatory of the near and the distant scenery through two windows that bifurcate in height as well as in direction, in order to capture different orientations. One prism follows the natural direction of the slope while the other rises in the opposite direction.
STUDIO LENZING
Studio Lenzing are well known for their painstaking minimalist UI and UX product design. Founded around 4 years ago by Leander Lenzing and Malte Körte, the team has been growing, and recently moved to a bigger office space, designed with the same level of attention to detail and minimalism they apply to their work. Studio Lenzing’s new office is located in the Altona district in Hamburg. Once a Danish town, today is a hotspot for creativity and talent in the city.
MULTICHAIR
A convertible system consisting of two individual elements that can easily turn into a conversation/relaxation chair. Designed in 1970 by Joe Colombo and produced by B—Line, this is a product designed with the total attention and full respect that a veritable design icon deserves. Both cushions have a steel internal structure and are upholstered in polyurethane foam. At the edges, the upholstering stretch fabric is glued to keep its shape unaltered, while leather belts, with the help of pins and buckles, keep the elements together.
COBRA TABLE LAMP
COBRA is a sinuously shaped lamp, dynamic and agile, like the serpent it is named after—an animal that oscillates to the music but is ready to spring into action. Designed by Elio Martinelli and manufactured in 1968 by Martinelli Luce, moulded using a unique material—thermosetting resin—in shiny white, black, or red. The latter to celebrate 50 years.
COCOON
Cocoon is an apartment designed by NONO Studio that applies geometric shapes throughout to emphasise the concept of a "box". By combining different materials with different tonalities, as well as multiple functions, the cube space will form different boxes, which can produce fresh feelings of visual impact, so that it can present an interesting contrast and spacial experience, such as privacy or openness, narrowness or wideness, gloominess or brightness, and so on.
HOUSE IN GOTANDA
Located in Tokyo's Shinagawa ward sits a low minimalist concrete dwelling that feels more like a bunker at first glance. Yet it's actually a multi-storey residence that centres around the kitchen and dining area with an open-plan programme. Designed by Japanese architecture firm Suppose Design Office, House in Gotanda's space changes its expression every time natural light interacts with it, creating shades and shadows throughout the entire house.
U, CANDY CASE
Introducing "U," (U comma), a minimalist candy case by Japanese designer Atsushi Shindo and casting manufacturer SANOSAMA. Made entirely from brass, the lollipop shaped case was created thanks to a highly advanced technology inspired by the traditional buddhist altar fitting production process. U,'s concept, "every small moment counts", is at the core of its manufacturing process.
DETACHED HOUSE
Located in the Swiss town of Aarau sits a bauhaus-style detached house designed by architects Gautschi Lenzin Schenker. The minimalist house is a composition of several concrete bodies. Two volumes with garages for the old and new building span the ground floor. The upper-storey structure is laterally offset inwards and protrudes on the street and garden side.
Supply spotlight
minimal product design made to own (and made by us):
M–MIMOTYPE
A minimal, no-code typography focused blog theme powered by Notion and Super. Simple and lightweight with a strong focus on the beauty of typography, Mimotype is a customisable blog template. Setting this template up is easy with no technical skills needed. The default font is set in Inter, but you can change it to another of your choice. Focus on writing and your content will look beautiful automatically.
Where next?
Discovery
other things for you to read, explore, and maybe even admire:
my favourite designers (ever) by Carl Barenbrug
breakthroughs of the year by Derek Thompson
christmas tree by nendo
multi: a preview of the beautifully minimal crypto wallet app
This monthly edition of the Minimalissimo newsletter was supported by aprile, the hanging chair
inspired by spring days and designed by Matteo Modica, aprile is a simple suspended chair that oozes elegance—a floating seat, shaped after spring petals, swinging gently. designed and handcrafted in Italy with artisanal love.
whether you're looking for visual inspiration or design insights, you can visit our gallery to discover the very best of minimalism in art and design.
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