Minimalism & Multisensorial Experience

Subtracting and adding have played the main role in characterizing every single chapter of design history, alternately defining the syntax and the aesthetics of the less, as well as the one of the more. From a design point of view, the less or the more disclose as indicators of specific temporal time-lapses and historic frames, sensitivity as well as technical compromises, traditionally driving new revolutions impacting on formal, aesthetic and social trends. Thinking in terms of “Next Design Scenario”, but also overviewing the current selections of interactive products already available, it is possible to detect an aesthetics of the more applied to technical and material performances, increasingly determining remarkable formal reductions, in favor of a syntax of the less, generating new functional minimalism. Reducing forms and adding performances requires an expansive involvement of expertise and competences, unlocking new porosities and cross-sector exchanges while outlining a novel and stimulating multidisciplinary setting. Several examples could be listed to show such an inverted proportion relating shapes to performances, and among the most relevant ones, we decided to drive our attention on “Snoo”, a smart self-rocking cradle designed by Yves Béhar and his team at Fuseproject studio, with the contribution of MIT. Hence, the first part of the article will provide an overview of the mentioned trend and the present scenario, then the attention will shift on the technical and aesthetic peculiarities of “Snoo”, aiming to show why and how less can still be more. Finally, in the last part we will focus on other contemporary story cases, showing how design is increasingly implementing minimalism, enhancing emerging technologies and novel materials in favor of a “Smart User Experience” framework and a multisensory involvement.