Essential decisions a minimal approach to design

Abstract

In a materially rich modern world, how does one apply the core minimalist concept possessing and consuming less but actually more, and use this as a guide to design products and change our lives? Minimalism is an art and design style that follows the maxim, ‘less is more' and has recently evolved and integrated into a lifestyle followed by many things. The author was curious as to in this age of material abundance, how it was possible to possess few items, and to choose items one needs. The author began with understanding the essence of minimalism by reading widely on this topic and following the works of luminary Japanese designers and a well-known Japanese housewife, Maria Kondo and her approach to organising possessions at home. To follow which the author applied this understanding to her own room to get a deeper insight into how these principles actually work in life, a few participants were recruited for this study, and they were required to send pictures of their desks and engage in a conversation via chatting apps to provide insights into how they organise their possessions. The author found that a modular system that is highly adaptable to suit multiple users and their needs to organise their possessions, but still retains the overall concept of minimalism does indeed help improve their lives.