Building Minimalist UIs

Minimalism in web design isn't just about having less—it's about making what you have matter more. In this post, I'll share some principles I follow when designing clean, functional interfaces.

The Power of White Space

White space (or negative space) is one of the most powerful tools in a designer's arsenal. It:

• Improves readability
• Creates visual hierarchy
• Guides the user's attention
• Makes interfaces feel premium

Typography as Design

When you strip away decorations, typography becomes your primary design tool. Here are some tips:

Choose the Right Font Pairing

A classic combination is a serif font for headings and a sans-serif for body text:

h1, h2, h3 {
  font-family: 'Instrument Serif', Georgia, serif;
}

p, a, li {
  font-family: 'Inter', system-ui, sans-serif;
}

Use Scale Wisely

Establish a clear type scale to create hierarchy:

text-xs    = 0.75rem    /* 12px */
text-sm    = 0.875rem   /* 14px */
text-base  = 1rem       /* 16px */
text-lg    = 1.125rem  /* 18px */
text-xl    = 1.25rem   /* 20px */
text-2xl   = 1.5rem    /* 24px */
text-4xl   = 2.25rem   /* 36px */

Color: Less Is More

For this blog, I used a restrained color palette inspired by Anthropic:

Role	Color	Usage
Background	#faf9f5	Page background
Surface	#f4f3ee	Cards, code blocks
Text Primary	#141413	Headings, body
Text Secondary	#b0aea5	Muted text
Accent	#d97757	Links, highlights

Notice how most of the palette is neutral, with a single accent color used sparingly.

The Importance of Contrast

Always ensure your text has sufficient contrast with its background. The WCAG recommends:

• 4.5:1 for normal text
• 3:1 for large text (18px+ bold or 24px+ regular)

Tools like WebAIM Contrast Checker can help verify your choices.

Conclusion

Minimalist design isn't about removing features or making things boring—it's about intentional restraint. By carefully choosing what to show and what to hide, you create experiences that feel thoughtful and refined.