TL;DR
Design across arts and technology tends to oscillate between ornate embellishment and pared-down simplicity. The pattern appears in architecture, visual arts and software, and the author argues software may swing back toward more decorative interfaces within a shorter timescale than historical arts.
What happened
A recent essay traces a recurring pattern in design history: periods that favor elaborate, decorative forms give way to phases that emphasize clarity and minimalism, and the pendulum swings again. The piece illustrates this cycle with architectural examples — the Romanesque Abbey Church of St James (1206), the more decorated Notre Dame (completed 1345), the Renaissance Cathedral of Pienza, the highly ornamented Catherine Palace, and later returns to simpler classical lines such as the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. The author extends the observation to other arts and to software. Early, visually spare tools like the vi editor (1978) contrast with feature-rich editors such as Microsoft Word; more recently some apps (for example, iA Writer) and operating system interfaces (Mac OS X 10.0 in 2001 versus Mac OS X 14.0 in 2023) reflect a move back toward minimal UI. The essay predicts a renewed wave of ornate software design in coming years, noting software’s faster evolution could compress cycles into decades rather than centuries.
Why it matters
- Design tendencies influence how users interact with tools: ornate interfaces can distract, while minimal ones aim for focus.
- Cycles recurring across disciplines suggest broader cultural and technical drivers, not isolated fads.
- Faster iteration in software means aesthetic shifts could affect product decisions and user expectations on shorter timelines.
- Awareness of the pattern can help designers and product teams anticipate changing user preferences and plan for longer-term aesthetic shifts.
Key facts
- The essay frames design history as a recurring cycle between ornate decoration and simplicity.
- Architectural examples include the Abbey Church of St James (Romanesque, 1206) and Notre Dame (completed 1345).
- Renaissance and later Baroque/Rococo examples cited are the Cathedral of Pienza and the Catherine Palace respectively.
- The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is offered as an example of a return to simpler, classical lines.
- In software, vi (created in 1978) is presented as an early, visually minimal text editor.
- Microsoft Word is described as a historically dominant, more feature-rich text editor.
- iA Writer is given as a contemporary example of a minimalist writing app.
- Mac OS X 10.0 (2001) and Mac OS X 14.0 (2023) are used to illustrate a shift back toward clean OS interfaces.
- The author predicts software will likely swing back toward more ornate interfaces, potentially on a compressed timeline compared with architecture.
What to watch next
- Signs of a new wave of visually elaborate software interfaces — not confirmed in the source.
- Shifts in popular productivity and creative apps toward more decorative UI elements — not confirmed in the source.
- Design community discussions and prototypes that revive heavy ornamentation in digital products — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Ornamentation: Decorative elements added to a design that are not strictly required for function but contribute to aesthetics.
- Minimalism (design): A design approach that emphasizes simplicity, clarity, and the removal of nonessential elements.
- Romanesque: A medieval architectural style characterized by solid, heavy forms and relatively restrained decoration.
- Baroque/Rococo: Late architectural and decorative styles known for exuberant, intricate, and highly ornamental details.
- User interface (UI): The means by which a user interacts with a software application, including visual elements and controls.
Reader FAQ
Is this ornamental-to-minimal cycle inevitable?
The essay presents the pattern as a recurring tendency across arts and design but notes the cycle is not perfect and is influenced by multiple factors.
Will software definitely become ornate again soon?
The author predicts a return to more decorative software interfaces in the coming years but acknowledges uncertainty; it is a forecast rather than a certainty.
Why do these cycles occur?
The source attributes cycles to a mix of influences including prevailing techniques, cultural context, and changing tastes.
How fast might software cycles move compared with architecture?
The essay suggests software could experience comparable shifts in years or decades rather than the centuries common in architectural history.
From Simple to Ornate and Back Again August 7, 2024 Art history shows us that we tend to move between adding “unnecessary” elaborate decorations to clean styles and back again….
Sources
- Simple to Ornate and Back Again (2024)
- From maximalism to minimalism and back again
- Death To Minimalism
- The Evolution of Minimalism in Modern Design
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