Simplicity

In one of my former business lives, I worked for the director of interior design for a very upscale office furniture manufacturer. While he was passionate about furniture form and function in the work environment, when it came to designing an office space, he always said, “Simplicity is the essence of design.”

I have been out of that industry for twenty- five years now, but his words formed an indelible impression on my mind. And what could be simpler than the shadow of a chair on a floor mat. Upside down, it is only a form, but right side up, it has function.

So often, we work so hard, to make things so perfect, that we destroy the original concept, and the message is lost. It just seems ironic that so many people strive for degrees, titles, accolades, and recognition by others, yet our imaginations are stimulated by the mystery of something as basic as the shadow of a chair. My boss had it right, “Simplicity is the essence of design.”