Minimalism vs MUJI
ミニマリズム / 無印良品
Minimalism comes from Functionalism and MUJI from Contemporary Branding. They are reached for with some of the same intent, which is where they get confused.
Minimalism
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Removes elements to maximize the meaning and tension of what remains.
MUJI
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A way of letting the raw colour of a material stand as the finish of an industrial product. Unbleached paper, uncoloured plastic and unstained wood are the outside of the thing, and the product name moves off that surface onto a hang tag.
| Minimalism | MUJI | |
|---|---|---|
| Era | 1960s– | 1980– |
| Family | Functionalism | Contemporary Branding |
| Kind | Style | Style |
| Cues | Vast white space / Few elements / Quiet color / Precise spacing | Unbleached paper and uncoloured translucent plastic standing as the colour of the packaging / No name or mark printed on the product itself, the name living only on the hang tag and the price label / Several lines of small type on the hang tag explaining the material and how it was made / Advertising that keeps the product small, with landscape or empty space filling most of the frame |
| Best used for | Focusing attention on a single value · Letting quality speak quietly | Shops and packaging where material and use, not names, guide the choice · Explaining why a price is low so it never reads as poor quality |
| Type | A light sans-serif or a well-cut serif | A light sans set small, its personality kept out of the way |
| Composition | One message, one focal point, wide margins | The product silhouette leads, labels moved to a side or base |
| Material | Nearly achromatic; texture in exactly one place | Unbleached or clear packaging printed with material and process |
| Caution | Missing information is not minimal. Decide priorities before you cut. | Draining color and widening margins without the voice that explains reasons leaves expensive goods that merely look quiet. |