Minimalism is a trend that garners a lot of debate and discussion in the website design community. As a result, chances are good that you've heard of minimalist design and seen its principles in practice on sites that you visit day in and day out.

But what exactly is minimalist design? And is it the right choice for your site?

Minimalism Defined

In website design, minimalism can easily be construed as plain, lackluster, or easy to accomplish. However, that is quite far from the truth.

To the contrary, minimalism is a philosophy of web design that strives to eliminate all unessential features and elements in order to enhance usability by providing a clean, streamlined browsing experience that is absent of unnecessary distractions and clutter.

Focus

Every successful minimalist design starts with a crystal-clear vision of the purpose of the site and the key messages it needs to convey.

Before any design choices are made, it's critical to outline the goals and content of the site. This requires determining what information is most vital to visitors and arranging it in order of significance. You might actually be amazed to discover how little information is actually required to help users make decisions or accomplish their goals.

Typography

Because minimalist design is reduced to only its most essential visual elements, the site's content takes center stage. As a result, typography is key to capturing the user's attention.

The choice and usage of typefaces in minimal design is critical to creating a unique look and feel that makes a lasting impression on visitors. Therefore, it's important to choose a combination of typefaces that reflect the personality of the brand and provide a pleasurable user experience. Yet again, restraint is key; using too many fonts can make the site feel unorganized.

Color

A common myth of minimalism is that it entails a lack of color. While many minimalist websites feature a palette limited to black and white, this is merely an aesthetic choice. Color should be deployed in ways that emphasize focus and restraint. Minimalist sites commonly employ a single continuous background color to set the mood, using a carefully chosen accent color to draw attention to key navigational elements.

Layout

Layout is a make-or-break element of minimalist design. It requires proper execution and an absolute lack of ambiguity. All elements should work together to keep the primary focus on the site's content. Special attention should be paid to the company name and logo to establish the site's identity.

Next, as with any site, ease of navigation is critical. Navigation menus should be convenient to locate and use on any device or platform. Also, images are an important component; in minimalist design, images can be used to powerful effect in the absence of other competing graphical elements.

White Space

White space—also known as "negative space"—refers to the area on a web page not occupied by design elements or text. It is a critical element of any design. This space between content helps users make sense of the page and understand which elements are most important.

In minimalist design, white space is used to lead and direct the user's attention. While minimalist design is appealing, it works best for sites centered around a singular purpose—whether that's selling an app or presenting a portfolio.

So, how can you determine whether your site would benefit from a minimalist approach? Evaluate your current website and eliminate any features that are not essential to supporting your business objectives. If what remains reflects a few simple ideas, your site is a good candidate for a minimalist redesign.

Contact me if you are interested in exploring minimalist web design for your next project.