ANTI-DECORATION MANIFESTO


We, the practitioners of digital brutalism, hereby declare war on unnecessary decoration in digital design.


OUR PRINCIPLES


1. FUNCTION OVER FORM

Every element must serve the user's goals. Decoration for its own sake is banned.


2. HONESTY IN MATERIALS

Digital materials should express their true nature. No skeuomorphism. No false textures.


3. SYSTEMATIC CONSISTENCY

Arbitrary design decisions are forbidden. Every choice must follow from the system.


4. COGNITIVE CLARITY

The user's mental energy is precious. Do not waste it on parsing unnecessary visual complexity.


WHAT WE REJECT


  • Gradients that serve no purpose
  • Shadows that add no depth
  • Animations that distract from content
  • Colors chosen for "brand personality"
  • Typography that prioritizes style over legibility
  • Layouts that prioritize "visual interest" over usability

    • WHAT WE EMBRACE


  • Sharp edges and clear boundaries
  • High contrast for maximum legibility
  • Monospace fonts for systematic consistency
  • Grid-based layouts that serve content
  • Functional color that conveys meaning
  • Typography that disappears into pure communication

    • THE RESULT


    Websites that load fast. Interfaces that work. Content that communicates. Users who accomplish their goals without friction.


    This is not about being ugly. This is about being honest.


    This is not about being difficult. This is about being clear.


    This is not about rejecting beauty. This is about finding beauty in truth.


    JOIN THE REVOLUTION


    Every unnecessary element you remove is a victory. Every function you clarify is progress. Every user goal you serve is success.


    The machine does not need decoration. Neither do we.

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