MINIMALISSIMO EDITED
This newsletter is supported by aprile, the hanging chair
We need to aim at essential things, removing every redundant effect, every useless flowering. Elaborating a concept on mathematical bases, on fundamental ideas, on elementary structures. We strongly need to avoid waste and excess.
– A G Fronzoni
What's happening?
Back from a much-needed break and feeling energised. Lanzarote is a beautiful little island. You can see a few captured moments during my time there if you're curious.
This week, I delved deeper into the world of AI tools and their inevitable influence on the creative landscape. I find myself at a bit of a crossroads, unsure whether to resist or embrace this technological wave, especially when it comes to AI-generated art. I'm fully on board with Chat GPT, though; it's become an incredible tool which I've managed to integrate into my work. But... my verdict is still up in the air when it comes to AI-generated visuals.
To be fair, I haven't been thorough enough with exploring text-to-image prompts, so my initial results have been quite shit. On a brighter note, I've been quite impressed with Adobe's Generative Fill beta. It does require some experimentation, but the results are impressive. I've also dabbled with DALL⋅E 2 and Midjourney, but my greatest expectations lie with Stable Diffusion. That's the next AI tool I'll be diving into, and I'm keen to see where it leads me.
You might wonder why I'm delving into this tech. I don't need to, but my curiosity and the endless possibilities really intrigue me. We've only scratched the surface of what AI can create, and given its rapid development, I want to stay close to it. I intend to keep experimenting until I discover a good enough reason to fully immerse myself. If that ever happens, of course.
If you share my curiosity or have advice to enhance my experience with these tools, I'd love to hear from you and discuss the topic further.
– Carl
Features
OAK SIDEBOARD
Designed around 1969 by J. Batenburg, this stunning all black brutalist sideboard is made out of black stained Oak with a striking deep grain. The repeating circular design immediately draws the eye and is impeccably crafted; it's carved out of solid Oak and later brushed, creating a charming yet rough and outspoken grain.
ESSESI
Alberto Essesi is an ex-lead industrial designer from Tesla's Design Studio in Los Angeles, CA. He resigned in order to start Essesi along with his brother Alan Essesi who is a mechanical engineer. Together they created their own collection of objects. Each product is manufactured in limited quantity and once it runs out, they will never be reproduced. The minimalist and modern collection of products currently includes a lounge chair, water pitcher, pen, candle holders, pestle and mortar, and a mood light.
BEOLAB 8
Bang & Olufsen's most versatile speaker ever. This sleek and compact speaker can be placed anywhere in your room, in any setup you prefer. Designed by Noto, the Beolab 8 is incredibly flexible. You can use it on its own or as part of a complete sound system. And for easy customisation, B&O created the most versatile and user-friendly stand programme in the brand's history. A modular mounting system with a Y-shaped spline at its core allows for a wide range of movement possibilities.
DOUGLAS LOUNGE CHAIRS
The late Pierre Folie (1938–2020) was a French painter, sculptor, and designer. His artistic work is essentially abstract, mainly geometric and sometimes lyrical, going as far as surreal and considered avant-garde. His furniture design also features geometric forms and utilitarian elements, drawing on Bauhaus principles. The Douglas lounge chairs were originally designed in the 1960s and produced by Manelec—a company specialising in high-end production of stainless steel furniture.
GALGO HOUSE
Galgo House, designed by Murado & Elvira architects and located in Madrid, is a creative response to a narrow plot in a quiet neighbourhood. This simple and slender 4-metre-wide dwelling boasts unique outdoor spaces on every level, providing both openness and privacy in a bustling area. The house challenges the traditional stacked-level concept, creating a dynamic vertical living experience that combines modern design with functionality.
HOUSE IN TOGUCHI
Sakai Architects has unveiled a striking architectural haven on Amami Oshima Island for a couple and their young family. Set against a backdrop of lush nature and overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the house is a serene escape from urban life, with its design carefully integrated into the island's landscape. Built to withstand typhoons, the house boasts a reinforced concrete framework. The roof, crafted from wood, not only minimises solar heat but also offers cost-effective ground stabilisation. Situated on a hill, the house enjoys natural ventilation year-round, eliminating the need for air conditioning, even in the heat of summer.
Supply spotlight
minimal product design made to own (and made by us):
M–HIDDEN: WALLPAPERS
This is a small collection of wallpapers specifically designed for the iPhone (but regardless of which phone you use, they will look good). With these gradient style designs, we have carefully blended the colours with those of the iOS dock background. You can download these and display an even sleeker home screen.
Where next?
Discovery
other things for you to read, explore, and maybe even admire:
url poetry club: poems constructed by websites
new museum to open in Naoshima designed by Tadao Ando
oda: minimal, modular + compact bags
the ai rainaissance by Minorstep
use a custom domain name: take ownership
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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