Seven minimalist components that rely on type, space and alignment: a product card with no decoration, a form with underline fields, a text-only navigation, an editorial list of articles, a button set from one colour, pricing as two columns of text and a footer with only the essentials.
A product card with no borders, shadows or badges: the photo, the name and the price, with generous space and one typeface. Minimalism relies on spacing and alignment to do the work that decoration usually does.
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<a class="mi1" href="#chair"><span class="im" aria-hidden="true"></span><span class="n">Oak side chair</span><span class="p">€340</span></a>
A form with underline fields, small uppercase labels and one plain button. It stays usable because every field keeps a visible label and a clear focus state; minimalism removes ornament, never clarity.
A navigation bar that is just words: a wordmark and four links, with the current page shown by a simple underline. No backgrounds or pills, so the hierarchy comes from type weight and spacing alone.
An index of articles separated by hairlines, with the title, a short category and a date aligned on a grid. Without images, the eye moves straight down the titles, which is ideal for archives and journals.
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<ol class="mi4"><li><a href="#a1">On restraint in interface design</a><span>Essay</span><time datetime="2026-09">Sep 2026</time></li><li><a href="#a2">A short history of the grid</a><span>History</span><time datetime="2026-07">Jul 2026</time></li><li><a href="#a3">Notes from a type workshop</a><span>Notes</span><time datetime="2026-05">May 2026</time></li></ol>
Primary, secondary and text buttons that differ only in fill: solid black, outlined and plain with an arrow. Three levels of emphasis from one colour and one border show how little a button system needs.
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<div class="mi5"><button class="p">Continue</button><button class="s">Save draft</button><button class="t">Learn more →</button></div>
Two plans side by side as columns of text separated by a single vertical line, with prices set large and light. Without cards and shadows, the comparison is the design.
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A footer with only the essentials: a copyright line on one side and three links on the other, separated from the page by a hairline. Everything else people look for in footers can live on an About page.
Without borders and shadows, grouping comes from spacing: related items close together, sections far apart. Pick a small spacing scale and stick to it.
One typeface, few sizes
Minimal designs usually use one family in two or three sizes and two weights. Hierarchy comes from size, weight and colour, not from boxes.
Remove ornament, not clarity
Keep visible labels, clear focus states and enough contrast. A minimal form without labels is not minimal, it is broken.
Use one accent or none
Black, white and one grey can carry a whole interface. If you add a colour, reserve it for the main action or links.
Frequently asked questions
Is minimalism just white space?
It is about removing everything that does not help, which often leaves space; it still needs structure.
Do minimal designs convert?
They can, when the main action is obvious. Make sure buttons still look like buttons.
Which font suits minimal UI?
A neutral sans with good spacing, or a refined serif for editorial sites.