I was reading through the Design Interact: Ofoto Case Study, and thought, it's a good looking google. Will there be a new trend in minimalist homepages? Obviously it only works if your business model is simple, but it's a nice change from the "link to everything" portal-copycats.

I believe there will definitely be a new trend but not necessarily in minimalism. Instead, it will be a trend of simplicity. The two are often confused so the difference is worth mentioning. Simple interfaces are reduced (not minimized), understandable, and easy to use. In contrast, Minimalist interfaces, use a minimum of lines, shapes, sometimes color, and aren't necessarily easy to use. Using these descriptions, I would call Ofoto's website simple, not minimal.

The most well known simple websites are those created by the often imitated 37signals. I'm also compiling snapshots of simple websites in a gallery called Web Simple, which will be launching sometime in the next few weeks, or as soon as I get around to it.

Clicking on the link you provided was an interesting reminder for me of the way my brain processes information when it has no context. When I got to that site I thought I was looking at a site for a company called Ofoto, and I thought their site was really bizzare. It was also a very complex site, and I couldn't understand why you had mentioned "minimalism" when introducing it. Certainly, the site I was looking at didn't remind me of Google in any way.

It wasn't till I got to the second page that I realized I was on a design site that was talking about a redesign of the Ofoto site, and that the site I was looking at was in no way affiliated with Ofoto.

I agree that there may be people who start/continue to design in a minimalistic or simplistic way. I dont see it as being a trend, rather i see it as being a necessity to remind people that they do not need to show off their knowledge of Flash by animating the build of every page of their site. (for example) Ive always had the opinion that simple is better, but not the easiest thing to accomplish. It is much easier to hide a site in "fancy clothes."

To me, the content is the prize. Unfortunately, I belong to the many minority who still suffer long downloads and end up totally unimpressed by the majority of those that can create such visual treats. Ever met a beautiful women with nothing to say? People call them airheads, which I can relate to alot of websites. Another cliche: Sometimes good things come in small packages.

To me, the content is the prize. Unfortunately, I belong to the many minority who still suffer long downloads and end up totally unimpressed by the majority of those that can create such visual treats. Ever met a beautiful women with nothing to say? People call them airheads, which I can relate to alot of websites. Another cliche: Sometimes good things come in small packages.

HI iam an industrial desin student.i hop to give some information about minimalism.THANKS

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