ESSENTIALISM – MINIMALISM THAT TRANSCENDS

For decades, minimalism has invited us to reevaluate what really matters, to eliminate excess, to value space, to prioritize what is necessary. The impact of this approach on modern design is undeniable. However, we realize that the path of simplicity deepens, revealing a next stage. A movement that, starting from the same foundations, suggests going beyond the mere aesthetics of reduction, finding meaning beyond form.


MINIMALISM: AN INITIAL PERSPECTIVE

Minimalism beckons us with the idea of ​​leaving aside the superfluous. It celebrates pure form, well-resolved function, durability and a certain visual neutrality. It has been a notable force in a world with so many stimuli, influencing not only product design, but also architecture, fashion and lifestyle.

Great inspiration is found in the principles of thinkers such as Dieter Rams, who advocated for honest, durable and discreet design. This vision has permeated many areas.

However, as the journey of design and consumption itself unfolds, simplicity can be a starting point for something more. The minimalist aesthetic seems to open up space for an additional dimension: intention.


ESSENTIALISM: WHEN PURPOSE SUGGESTS FORM

Essentialism arises from the same appreciation for simplicity as classic minimalism, but perhaps with an added layer of meaning. It’s not just about removing, but about making choices with intention. What remains, remains for a clear reason: be it functional, aesthetic or emotional.

It is a philosophy that sees design as a means of connection, not just a formal solution. Essentialism can invite us to think less about quantity and more about purpose. It guides us to create not only with care, but with an expanded awareness.


FROM AESTHETICS TO EXPERIENCE

While minimalism encourages us to simplify, essentialism can lead us to signify. Simplicity remains, but perhaps in the service of something greater: the construction of experiences that carry intention, emotion, and connection.

Creations that follow this trend, for example, were not designed to attract attention in an ostentatious way, but to make a statement. These are pieces that respect the visual silence that can be found in minimalism, but that seem to carry within them deeper values: authenticity, purpose and responsibility.


MINIMALISM AND ESSENTIALISM: A DIALOGUE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Feature Minimalism Essentialism
Main Perspective Prioritizes functional aesthetics
Values ​​purpose and meaning
Focus Reduction of excess Make intentional choices
Expression Search for visual neutrality Manifests a silent presence

It is not about leaving minimalism behind, but perhaps about perceiving it in a more mature phase. Essentialism can be, in many ways, its natural continuation: a response to the search for creating with greater depth, for living with greater presence.


LESS BUT BETTER

Embracing essentialism can mean seeing design as something that goes beyond the surface. It’s seeing each creation as a possible extension of conscious values, choices, and intentions.

For us at Muese, as an essentialist design house, we do not eliminate to reduce, but rather choose to enhance. In doing so, we create with intention, refining matter, form and values ​​to bring to life pieces that express purpose, authenticity and presence.

Back