When Less Solves the Problem.

More features.

More pages.

More offers.

More noise.

Brands often add when they should be cutting.

Avoiding hard decisions by keeping everything.

Calling it “options” instead of admitting it’s clutter.

The NYC Subway Map

When Massimo Vignelli redesigned the NYC subway map, he applied principles of minimalism to create order from chaos. He removed geographic accuracy in favor of clarity. Every line, every turn was intentional.

Naoto Fukasawa’s Muji CD player

It hangs on the wall like a fan.

You pull the cord to play it.

Minimalism here is intuitive, not aesthetic. It gets out of your way.

That thinking influenced everything from phones to product UX today.

Minimalism is functional.

It removes distraction to make space for what matters.

Every element earns its place. Nothing extra. Nothing just for show.

It isn’t easy.

But it’s necessary.

This week’s prompt:

What needs to be cut for your brand to move forward?

Name it.

Remove it.

Make space.

/

Ian Adams, Founder the little red sofa

Before founding the little red sofa, I led strategy and creative for brands like Jeep, HSBC, and Unilever at top global agencies and in-house teams across 8 countries. Now I work with founders to turn brand clarity into sustainable growth.