Minimalism & Sustainability

At Killwood we are imagining and designing products that follow a philosophy, embodied within each product. Minimalism is immensely important in Killwood’s design process, but making our designs as sustainable as possible is essential too. Surprisingly these two concepts of minimalism and sustainability are not very different; in fact they are complimentary in many ways.

So what is Minimalism?

Minimalism focuses on space, simplicity, and the removal of all unnecessary elements to focus on what needs to be there, what has purpose. So, in short, minimalism is the theory that less is more. The minimalist movement does not trace to a specific time period, but rather a timeless tradition that designers seem to persistently come back to – a classic style and guiding philosophy.

It may be becoming clear where I am getting at when I say minimalism complements being sustainable. Minimizing processes in the manufacturing stages of a product, and reducing the distance the product has to travel are great ways to minimize consumption. Think about it. If you use less energy to create and transport a product, you’re able to create a minimal and sustainable solution that uses fewer resources. This is an essential part of being sustainable: “reducing”.

Modern Minimalist Materials

You want to choose great materials – those that tell a story and don’t need embellishments to become beautiful. A perfect example is pine beetle Killwood. The natural blue streaks in the wood tell a story of devastation and creation, meanwhile reducing the need for heavy lacquer or paint which both have negative effects on our environment. As a result, a material that needs nothing added, achieves minimalism, and provides an eco-friendly opportunity to create.

Lastly, minimalist interior design encourages the use of empty space, which inspires the user to use less, and make more with what they have. By using less and doing just as much, their products actually motivate the user to do the same.