Less is more or less more: perceptual health in minimalist design

Abstract

The saying by Ludwig van der Rohe, that "less is more", has become a well-known truism about the supposed superiority of minimalism over other design forms, especially decorative compositions. Here, the avenues of ugliness, beauty and the sublime are used to revisit a key inspiration of minimalism, namely, Japanese landscape design and architecture. In particular, this article is presented from the viewpoint of visual psychology, examining some key aspects of what these designs offer the human visual system at various neural levels. Knowing on what "diet" of visual signals our perception and cognition flourishes, a comparison of recent examples of minimalist design [and classical Japanese minimalism reveals key dissimilarities of what] there is more or less of in each case. The conclusion is that, in neural terms, less than the necessary sensory stimulation results in more mental agitation than is necessary, especially when individuals need to function within a visual environment for an extended period of time. AFRIKAANS: Minder is min of meer meer, perseptuele welstand in minimalistiese ontwerp. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe se stelling dat minder meer is, het 'n aanvaarde vanselfsprekende waarheid geword wat die veronderstelde meerderwaardighede van minimalisme oor ander soorte ontwerp bevestig, veral oor dekoratiewe komposisies. Aakligheid, skoonheid en die sublieme as temas word hier aangewend om die belangrikste inspirasies van minimalisme na te gaan, naamlik Japanese landskapontwerp en argitektuur. In die besonder word hierdie artikel aangebied vanuit die standpunt van visuele psigologie en ondersoek word ingestel na wat genoemde ontwerpe die menslike visuele sisteem op verskeie neurale vlakke bied. Wetende op watter "dieet" van visuele seine ons persepsie en kognisie floreer, ontbloot 'n vergelyking tussen resente voorbeelde van minimalistiese ontwerp en klassieke Japanese "minimalisme" sleutelverskille van wat daar visueel meer of minder in elke geval van is. Die slotsom is dat, in neutrale terme, minder as die vereiste sensoriese stimulasie meer mentale agitasie veroorsaak as wat nodig is wanneer indiwidue vir 'n uitgebreide tydperk binne 'n visuele omgewing moet funksioneer.