The Less is More Problem

Exploring the power of suggestion in Graphic Design

This six-part project introduces students to the power of suggestion in graphic design, inspired by Mies van der Rohe’s "less is more" philosophy. Through a reductive approach, students create black-and-white compositions that invite viewers to mentally complete implied images. The first three steps guide students in selecting an object (industrial, animal, or plant), simplifying it into flat positive and negative shapes, then progressively cropping the design—first to maintain clarity, and then to the point of abstraction—shifting focus from representation to form.

Course: DSGN 105 Visual Design Systems | Spring 2024

Medium: Adobe Illustrator


*All works displayed here were created by SCAD students as part of assignments for DSGN 105 Visual Design Systems