Restraint in Design. Designers often undervalue restraint. Restraint is establishing a solution in the simplest way possible. It adds meaning to each mark, making each element an integral part of your communication. This solution allows for simplicity, elegance, and clarity.
less is more.
Eliminate the Arbitrary.
WALL CLOCK by howard miller clock company, 1969–1970
KITCHEN SCOOP by vollrath company, pre–1956
EAMES MOLDED PLASTIC DOWEL LEG ARMCHAIR by charles & ray eames, 1950
FLATWARE by arne jacobsen, 1957
BLIP SPOON REST by paolo gerosa, 2010
CREATE A CLEAR HIERARCHY of INFORMATION. Consider size, weight, tracking, placement and leading of type.
EAMES WIRE CHAIR WITH VILCINI—DKR2 by charles & ray eames, 1950
HAYDN + HAUER POSTER by bohatsch visual communication
MINIMAL CUTLERY by david mellor, 2002
GLASSES by hans theo baumann, 1966
67 DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION, INC. by sametez blackstone association, 1982
use only what you need information / composition / typography / color / material.
MINIATURE CHAIR, TULIP by eero saarinen, 2006
ABC LOGO by paul rand, 1961
WESTINGHOUSE ANNUAL REPORT by paul rand, 1974
THE GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM PROMOTION by malcolm grear designers
CASSEROLE POT by bjorn dahistrom, 1996
communicate with economy.
SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS by william lescaze, 1935
BIG DRAWINGS by mit design services, 1982
FUTURIST EVENING by two twelve associates, 1982
ITALICUS POULTRY SHEARS by antonia campi, 1960
GARBO WASTE BIN by karim rashid, 1990
chose your color palette purposely.
COMPACT SOFA by charles & ray eames, 1954
CONVEYING A MOOD by kelley mcintyre & kim bentley
O—SERIES SCISSORS by olaf backstrom, 1967
AIGA POSTER by paul rand, 1968
QUAKE MUGS by gustaf nordensklold, 2011
THINK
SUSTAINABLY
your
when SELECTING
MATERIALS
LOW LOUNGE CHAIR by jens risom, 1941
FJORD CUTLERY by jens h. quintgaard, 1953
WOOD CHAIR by marc newson, 1998
STRAWBOWLS by kristiina lassus, 2000
TEA KETTLE by harold l. van doren & gordon rideout, 1936
be
not
CREATIVE,
EXCESSIVE
DESIGN 63 by paul rand, 1963
TABLE LAMP by bauhaus metal workshop, 1928
COCKTAIL GOBLETS by desney, 1930
iPHONE 4S by steve jobs, 2011
SIDE CHAIR by peer bucking, 1928
USE ONLY THREE TYPEFACES
unless the context dictates
otherwise.
WINTER AID POSTER 1960
NEW YORK CITY BALLET IDENTITY by paula scher, 2008
DESIGN AND CHAOS by paul rand, 1987
WUJU TV47 SPANISH TELEVISION by the handler group, 1982