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@culturaltutor

This isn't an attack on capital M Minimalism, which is a conscious design movement.

Like the Minimalist music of the composer Philip Glass, which is frankly beautiful.

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@culturaltutor

What I'm talking about is unconscious, small m minimalism.

Which has become the social default for seemingly every design choice, whether architectural or corporate or anything else.

It is a troubling phenomenon because of what minimalism represents: a lack of detail.

What I'm talking about is unconscious, small m minimalism. 

Which has become the social default for
What I'm talking about is unconscious, small m minimalism. 

Which has become the social default for
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@culturaltutor

Why does detail matter? Think of it as identity.

What gives the phone box on the left its distinctive character?

The details: colour, mouldings around the door, the ornamentation at the top.

The phone box on the right has no real detail, and no character.

Why does detail matter? Think of it as identity.

What gives the phone box on the left its distincti
Why does detail matter? Think of it as identity.

What gives the phone box on the left its distincti
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@culturaltutor

I'm not necessarily talking about beauty here.

I'm just talking about things having some discernible qualities & characteristics.

The bollard on the left is hardly "beautiful," but it does have some character.

The one on the right... it exists. That's all.

I'm not necessarily talking about beauty here.

I'm just talking about things having some discernibl
I'm not necessarily talking about beauty here.

I'm just talking about things having some discernibl
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@culturaltutor

And doorbells too!

You would remember the one on the left. It adds charm & character to its location.

The one on the right... you wouldn't even notice it.

And doorbells too!

You would remember the one on the left. It adds charm & character to its loc
And doorbells too!

You would remember the one on the left. It adds charm & character to its loc
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@culturaltutor

How many large corporations have rebranded towards far more simplified logos?

This is a notorious recent example.

How many large corporations have rebranded towards far more simplified logos?

This is a notorious r
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@culturaltutor

The thing with detail (and, therefore, identity) is that people have different tastes.

So, to some extent, it imposes something on a person.

Default minimalist designs strips all identity away from things.

It presents a neutral, clean-slate which imposes nothing.

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@culturaltutor

So when small m minimalism has become the social default for everything from benches & bollards to skyscrapers & national assemblies....

We have a reduction ad absurdum of cultural aesthetics:

Somebody might not like a detail (read: character) so there can be no details.

So when small m minimalism has become the social default for everything from benches & bollards
So when small m minimalism has become the social default for everything from benches & bollards
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@culturaltutor

It is an IKEA Bookcase world.

(Nothing wrong with IKEA Bookcases necessarily, but when everything looks like one, well...)

It is an IKEA Bookcase world.

(Nothing wrong with IKEA Bookcases necessarily, but when everything l
It is an IKEA Bookcase world.

(Nothing wrong with IKEA Bookcases necessarily, but when everything l
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@culturaltutor

Please remember that I am not talking about a conscious minimalism here.

If you like to decorate your room in a minimalist fashion, that isn't a problem. It's none of mine or anybody else's business.

The problem is this social drift towards absolute simplification...

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@culturaltutor

The worst crime of minimalist design is how it has stripped all colour away from things.

The worst crime of minimalist design is how it has stripped all colour away from things.
The worst crime of minimalist design is how it has stripped all colour away from things.
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@culturaltutor

Perhaps minimalist design is so prevalent because we no longer have anything to say.

You don't need me to explain what the Gothic cathedral says, for example.

But the skyscraper? It doesn't say anything, really. It's just... there.

Perhaps minimalist design is so prevalent because we no longer have anything to say.

You don't need
Perhaps minimalist design is so prevalent because we no longer have anything to say.

You don't need
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@culturaltutor

And suddenly everything, everywhere starts to look the same.

Absolute neutrality. No detail. No identity.

What does that say about us?

And suddenly everything, everywhere starts to look the same.

Absolute neutrality. No detail. No ide
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@culturaltutor

Anyway, I'm off to sit in the garden & listen to Bedřich Smetana's Má Vlast...

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@culturaltutor

I'm enjoying the discussion this thread has generated so far!

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