Winter 2014 Boys Trend Forecast-Less Is More

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Less Is More Keywords

Low Battery

The Less is More trend forecast touches on the popularity of minimalism. Minimalism is not only used to describe a trend in design and architecture. It also encompasses trends in art, photography and music. We explore the key influences of this movement and explain how minimalism is applied to design, art, photography and music. In response to the over-decorated design of the previous period, minimalism gradually became a significant design movement of the 19th century and continues today, most prominently through companies like Apple and various graphic and visual designers. The first major modern day influencer of minimalism was painter and architect Theo van Doesburg. In 1917 he started the De Stijl art movement in Leiden, a city of the Netherlands. The movement encompassed a new style of modern art and architecture that centered around minimalism in homes, buildings and furniture. It is highly inspired from traditional Japanese design and the concept of Zen philosophy with open spaces, cool lighting and fluid lines.

It isn’t the gaudiest or most popular, but minimalism has influenced more industries than any other design trend. Most people may not realize it, but minimalism is all around us: digital devices; web and applications; graphic design; skyscrapers; living, work and entertainment spaces; and packaging and labels of the many products we consume and the vehicles we drive every day, just to name a few. Best described in an article written by Skprestudios titled Minimalist Design: A Brief History and Practical Tips, “minimalist design is more of a principle than visual design. It doesn’t matter if you’re designing a website, a flyer, a user interface, a piece of hardware, a house, or anything else – you remove the unnecessary (i.e., can the design still function at a 100 percent level without it?) and keep only the essential elements.” www.surryhilltrends.com


Less Is More Keywords Minimal Cubist Design Architecture

Open Structure

Cubist squares pattern

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Less Is More

Calvin Klein

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Less Is More Keywords Open spaces Hard edges

Stack Of Wooden Blocks

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Less Is More Minimal art, also called ABC art, was created as a reaction against a thencurrent form of Abstract Expressionism. Artists adopted the point of view that a work of art should not refer to anything other than itself. ABC art was a change from action to hard edges, linear rather than painterly. It came into practice in the early to mid 1900s. Although minimal art has been in practice since the early to mid 1900s, it transformed into a movement in early 1960 New York. Leaders of this movement used both paint and unconventional media, such as three-dimensional forms made of industrial material or geometrical shapes. This nontraditional use of materials resulted in artwork that was unitarily indistinct. “Minimalism” an article written by The Art Story Organization states, “Minimalists attempted to avoid metaphorical associations, symbolism, and suggestions of spiritual transcendence.”

Action Clock

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Less Is More In an article written by digital designer news website www.noupe.com titled “Minimalist Art Photography,” describes minimalist photography as, “the art of less.” Influencers of this photography form include Ralph Gibson, who sees photography as having different levels of a¬bstraction, and London-based photographer Nick Meed, who uses color manipulation to give his photos a minimalistic feel. Minimal photography is composed of a few basic components with a singular meaning and has a calming effect. In music, the minimalist movement was, like minimal art, a reaction against a then-current form, with composers rejecting many of the dry intellectual complexities and the emotional sterility of 20th century music that used a definite order or series of notes as a thematic basis for a musical composition. Generally, minimalist compositions tend to emphasize simplicity in melodic line and harmonic progression, to stress repetition and rhythmic patterns, and to reduce historical or expressive reference. The use of electronic instruments is common in minimalist music with influences from Asia and Africa. Well-known minimalist composers are Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Terry Riley, La Monte Young and John Adams. The Less is More trend direction illustrates the feeling of Zen through boyish photographical images of single subject toys and blocks, hard edge architecture elements, simple repetition, perfect order, cool shades of aqua and white, warm tones of red and vibrant yellows. The Less is More color palette consists of refreshing aqua, teal and white accented by greenish-yellow, orange and brown.

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Building Blocks


Less Is More Keywords Progression Perfect order

White Cups

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Less Is More Keywords

Kid friendly Zen Fluid

Toy Car Made Of Wooden Building Blocks

Swirl Of Blocks

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Less Is More Keywords Asymmetry Abstract Artistic

Empty Seats On City Bus

Contemporary Oil Painting

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Less Is More

Calvin Klein

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Less Is More Keywords Transcend Photography

Colorful Staircase

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Less Is More Keywords Modern Brilliant Perplexing

Yellow Armchair Against A Blue Wall

Big Heap Of Colorful Clothes

Robot Team

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Less Is More Keywords Trend Style Influence

Modern Room

Seamless Pattern With Watch Symbol

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Less Is More Keywords Frigid Graphic

Snowboarder On A Background Of Mountains And Ski Lift

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Less Is More Keywords Contend Seamless Perplexing

Hockey Puck With Goalie And Net Post

Turquoise Water Surface

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Less Is More Keywords Extreme Barrier Elevate

Ice Hockey Net

Ski Slope With Red Number 35 In The Austrian Alps

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Less Is More Keywords Guard Geometric

Old Scratched Football Helmet With Protective Mask

Geometric Pattern

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Less Is More Keywords Enlighten Visual

Silhouettes Of Adult And Kid Skier Riding Ski Lift

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