Minimalism in design isn’t a single, rigid style; it’s an evolving language that has taken many different forms over the past century. The roots of minimalism can be traced back to the early 20th century, particularly to the De Stijl movement (1917–1931) in the Netherlands and the Bauhaus school (1919–1933) in Germany. These movements championed simplicity, geometric abstraction, and the use of industrial materials, influencing what would later become the core tenets of minimalism. Figures like Gerrit Rietveld, Walter Gropius, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe laid the groundwork, emphasizing function over ornamentation with their designs. By the mid-20th century, minimalism emerged as a defining force in both architecture and furniture design, with leading designers like Donald Judd and Isamu Noguchi shaping the movement in their own unique ways. This article highlights designers who are currently pushing the boundaries of minimalism or who have done so in the past, demonstrating that simplicity can be as diverse as any other movement. We’ve compiled a list of our top 16 minimalist designers to inspire you on your design journey.
1. Donald Judd
Donald Judd is known as one of the fathers of minimalist art. He never set out to be a furniture designer and believed that many of his designs were extensions of his sculptural practice. Yet, they have become some of the most iconic minimalist furniture pieces ever made. They have a very honest quality to them - often crafted from simple materials like plywood, aluminum, or painted MDF and assembled with absolute clarity and simplicity. His design pieces do not have hidden joints, decorative elements, or any other unnecessary parts. His approach was uncompromising, with the goal to reduce each piece to pure structure and function. They have become timeless pieces that reflect his minimalist art, prioritizing form, material, and proportionality over personal expression or narrative.
2. Isamu Noguchi
Noguchi's work wasn’t about strict geometry or reducing form in the way Donald Judd’s was, instead his goal was to achieve a balance with as little as possible. Noguchi is perhaps best known for his iconic Akari lights, characterised by weightless luminosity, which he began in 1951. He chose the name 'akari' for these objects, a word that means 'light' in Japanese, connoting both illumination and physical lightness. During a journey to Japan, Noguchi paid a visit to Gifu, a town known for its manufacture of paper parasols and lanterns. While there he sketched his first two Akari Light Sculptures, and over the following years he created a total of more than 100 models. For Noguchi, there was no distinction between art and furniture—he viewed design as art while ensuring it remained deeply functional. With a sculptor’s sensibility, he constantly considered negative space and how an object interacts with its surroundings. His work always had this quiet tension between softness and precision, organic and geometric, tradition and modernity. That balance is what gives his approach to minimalism an effortless quality.
3. Junya Ishigami
Junya Ishigami takes minimalist design to an extreme, stripping it down to the bare minimum. By pushing materials to their absolute limits, he turns chairs and tables into structural experiments rather than just everyday objects. His work exists at the intersection of furniture, sculpture, and architecture, intentionally blurring the lines between them. A trained architect, he founded his own studio, junya.ishigami+associates, in 2004. In 2010, the studio won the prestigious Golden Lion for Best Project at the 12th International Architecture Biennale in Venice, Italy.
4. Shigeru Uchida
A prolific designer and a major figure in post-war Japan, Shigeru Uchida (1943–2016) left a lasting impact on his era with a distinctly contemporary approach. His work seamlessly blended a deep reflection on Japanese aesthetics with the cutting edge of global design. Among his many creative pursuits, chair design held a fundamental and special place. Exploring the ways space is occupied in both Japan and the West, Uchida aspired to create “transparent, lightweight furniture with a minimal sense of gravity, transcending physical presence.” His iconic 1977 design, September, perfectly embodies this vision—a pure silhouette, slender steel elements, and a mesh structure that enhances its sense of lightness.His practice was deeply rooted in theory and research. A renowned design theorist, he authored numerous books examining key themes in contemporary Japanese design.
5. Shiro Kuramata
Kuramata was known for combining European design with Japanese sensibilities. Kuramata first encountered Italian design through Memphis Design Group, then in 1987, for whom he created the Progetti Compiuti chest of drawers series. All of the pieces Kuramata made for the company were incredibly well-received. In 1965, he founded the Kuramata Design Office in Tokyo, where he remained until the year of his death. Shiro Kuramata’s minimalism wasn’t about making things feel stark or rigid, it was light, playful, and a little surreal. He didn’t strip objects down to be austere; he reduced them to create something unexpected. Take the How High the Moon chair, just steel mesh, no excess, yet it completely defies expectations. It looks fragile, almost like it’s barely there, but it’s solid and functional. His acrylic furniture and transparent surfaces pushed minimalism in a new direction, proving it didn’t have to be severe, it could be poetic, even mischievous. While many minimalists focused on material and structure, Kuramata played with perception. His designs often felt like illusions, almost dreamlike designs. His acrylic pieces and industrial materials gave objects an ephemeral quality, making them feel like they existed somewhere between reality and imagination.
6. John Pawson
John Pawson is one of the UK’s most renowned architects, celebrated for his signature white, pared-back aesthetic that prioritizes space over clutter. His diverse portfolio includes high-end private homes, hotels, shops, restaurants, monasteries, and London’s Design Museum. His design philosophy aligns closely with his architectural principles, placing strong emphasis on materials and seeking to capture their essence in the purest way possible. His minimalist style was further shaped by a formative period in Japan as a young student, where he had the opportunity to meet Shiro Kuramata, one of the most influential Japanese furniture and interior designers of the 20th century. Additionally, the work of Donald Judd in Marfa, Texas, played a significant role in inspiring his approach to design.
7. Vincent Van Duysen
Van Duysen is a Belgian designer renowned for his work in architecture and interior design. His creations are timeless and understated, focusing solely on the essential. After earning his degree from the Sint-Lucas School of Architecture in Ghent, he worked with Aldo Cibic in Milan before collaborating with Jean De Meulder in Antwerp. In 1989, he founded Vincent Van Duysen Architects. His design philosophy is rooted in the use of pure, tactile materials, resulting in clean and enduring forms. With a deep respect for context and tradition, his approach prioritizes sensory and physical experiences—where space, texture, and light enhance the integrity of the user. Functionality, durability, and comfort are at the core of his work, forming an architectural language that embraces aesthetics while consciously avoiding fleeting trends.
8. EJR Barnes
Straddling the line between industrial design and decorative art, London-based designer EJR Barnes creates subtly striking objects and furnishings that echo the past while forging a nonconformist path into the future. The term "usable sculpture" is often thrown around, but in Barnes’ case, it truly applies—his dreamlike designs contrast with the weight and presence of heavy materials. Entirely self-taught, Barnes began his creative journey as a drummer before working in a bespoke eyewear shop. His passion for furniture simmered beneath the surface—when not assisting customers, he immersed himself in the work of furniture makers and designers. Recognizing his interest, the shop’s owner generously offered him space in the back to use as a studio, where he began to experiment.
9. Pierre Paulin
Pierre Paulin created some of the most iconic seating designs of the 20th century. Born in Paris in 1927, he was inspired by his uncle, automotive innovator Georges Paulin. Initially training as a ceramist and stone-carver, a hand injury ended his sculpting ambitions, leading him to study at the École Camondo, an interior design school in Paris. Paulin’s career was defined by innovation, blending form, function, and futuristic aesthetics. In the 1950s, he began designing furniture, famously stretching swimwear fabrics over chair frames. His groundbreaking work led to prestigious commissions, including furniture for the Louvre and interiors for France’s presidential residence. His most famous designs included The Dune Sofa (1970), a modular masterpiece featured in Frank Ocean’s home, and various pieces for the Alpha Collection (1960), originally created for the Élysée Palace. The Alpha Collection pieces are constructed from foam-wrapped wood, and remain celebrated for their avant-garde design and comfort. Paulin’s furniture stands out for its bold, sculptural shapes and pioneering use of stretch fabric over molded foam or wood, giving his pieces a seamless, organic look. His designs balance innovation and comfort, and have become some of the most instantly recognisable design items of the 20th century. His legacy was revived by his widow, Maïa, and their family through Paulin Paulin Paulin, a company dedicated to preserving and promoting his work.
10. Xavier Feal
Xavier Féal was a French designer known for his sleek, minimalist furniture that captured the avant-garde aesthetics of the 1970s. His work emphasized clean lines, geometric forms, and a bold use of stainless steel, creating a refined yet striking visual language. Little is known about his personal life, but his limited-production pieces remain highly sought after for their architectural quality and distinctive modernism. A graduate of the École Boulle and the Arts Décoratifs in Paris, Féal was commissioned by Inox Industrie to create a range of stainless steel furniture. With his radical designs and small-scale production, the Xavier Féal design items remain a rare and highly collectible reflection of modernist experimentation.
11. Arno Declercq
Arno Declercq (b. 1994, Belgium) is a designer and art dealer known for his sculptural interior objects that merge design, history, and craftsmanship. After studying interior design, he opened a gallery specializing in ethnographic art before launching his own brand in 2017. Inspired by architecture, ancient arts, and tribal culture, his collections, often crafted from black-burned wood, feature bold geometric lines and architectural forms. How work can be described as dark and bespoke monolithic pieces that serve both as furniture and sculptural works of art. In 2023, he opened a private showroom in Antwerp, offering an immersive experience while continuing to create bespoke projects worldwide. Alongside furniture and decorative pieces like candlesticks and bowls, Arno creates sculptures as well, demonstrating his effortless transition from functional design to sculptural art. His pieces complement fine art beautifully, and he has completed multiple commissions with Claes Gallery, where his furniture has been paired with artworks.
12. Theoreme editions
Théorème Editions is a French design house that partners with contemporary designers and skilled European craftsmen to create poetic furniture and objects. They carefully select only a few of the most exciting designers working today. While their aesthetic varies, a common thread in all their pieces is a unique, often playful approach to materials. Their objects are as much sculptural works as they are functional furniture, offering beauty, intrigue, and inspiration. The Achille Chair, designed by Pool, features a sculpted foam form with gentle curves, upholstered in a wool and alpaca bouclé fabric. Its soft contours are contrasted by the rigid brass cube it rests upon. Each chair is a limited edition piece, numbered and signed.
13. Studioutte Studio
Studioutte was founded in 2020 by Guglielmo Giagnotti and Patrizio Gola, a Milan-based studio dedicated to interior architecture, decoration, and collectible design. With Giagnotti's background as an architect and Gola's expertise as an interior designer, the two combined their talents to create a unique multidisciplinary practice. The studio's work is defined by a clear, expressive approach focused on purity and the essence of form. While their designs are minimalist and pared back, they maintain an inviting warmth. studioutte’s vision is to embody a refined yet approachable style, blending warm minimalism with a sense of the vernacular.
14. Brett Robinson
The New York Based-designer and decorator Brett Robinson pieces offer a fresh take on hard-edged sculptural designs. Robinson crafts stunning furniture from cast aluminium, including tables with reinforced epoxy tops, as well as sofas and stools upholstered in plush alpaca, featuring soft, undulating lines. His ability to transform metal into something that appears soft and pliable is captivating. Born and raised in Manhattan Beach, California, Robinson’s journey into interior design stemmed from his time spent his time exploring flea markets, where he developed a deep passion for vintage furniture. Robinson's debut collection, "Halcyon," was showcased at Just One Eye in Los Angeles, a celebrated concept store. The exhibition featured an eclectic mix of Art Deco furniture, and works by renowned photographers like Andy Warhol, Nobuyoshi Araki, and Thomas Ruff. Even amidst such high-profile art world figures, Robinson’s pieces stood out for their exceptional quality and originality. His work is beautifully crafted and timelessly designed. One of Brett Robinson’s signature pieces, the SV_1 ottoman, combines cast aluminum with soft alpaca. The contrast between these two materials is beautifully balanced, resulting in a minimalist design that is both elegant and invitingly comfortable.
15. Wonmin Park
Wonmin Park graduated from the Design Academy Eindhoven in the Netherlands in 2011. Since then, he has exhibited at renowned fairs, and his work has been featured in museum exhibitions at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, and the Triennale Design Museum in Milan. Shortly after graduating, Park established his studio in Eindhoven, where he has worked for the past nine years. He has since expanded with a production facility in Rotterdam and a creative studio in Paris. Park is renowned for his mastery of resin, a material that defines much of his design work. The use of resin imparts a surreal, dreamlike quality to his pieces, evoking the sensation of viewing objects without fixed contours, held together by light and air. As the artist describes, his goal is to create a "sense of lightness and purity."
16. Maria Pergay
Maria Pergay was a pioneering French designer known for her innovative use of stainless steel in furniture and objects. A favorite of Dalí and Christian Dior, she is considered one of the greats of 20th-century design, alongside Eero Aarnio, Verner Panton, and Charlotte Perriand. Originally trained as a sculptor under Ossip Zadkine, Pergay returned to design in the 1960s, creating decorative items for brands like Hermès and Christian Dior. In 1967, steel company Uginox approached her to design gifts, but she instead proposed a line of furniture. This marked a pivotal moment in her career, and she later described working with steel as a material that "talks" to her—"if it is ready to obey, it is like a tamed animal, but if it is bad, it’s a slap in the face.’ Her work for Uginox debuted in 1968 at Galerie Maison et Jardin in Paris, featuring simple shapes and impeccable finishes that showcased the technical qualities of stainless steel. The pieces were an immediate hit, attracting collectors like Pierre Cardin and the Shah of Iran. Among the highlights were a ‘Ring’ chair (chaise ‘Anneaux’) inspired by the coiling shape of orange peel, and a wavelike ‘Flying Carpet‘ daybed (lit ‘Tapis volant’), which she said came to her in a dream. The daybed became an instant sensation when Brigitte Bardot, the icon of the French New Wave, famously draped herself across it on the set of Sacha Distel’s TV show.
