Earn the Right to Abstract

Learning from Picasso's bull to avoid empty minimalism

Mar 31, 2024

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Trung Phan wrote a great thread about how Apple uses Picasso’s study of a bull as a lesson for finding the essence of a design.

Across the 11 lithographs, we see Picasso gradually abstract the core forms of the animal. He communicates the same idea with less and less detail. It starts in the top left with a lifelike bull figure, progresses through a number of increasingly geometric breakdowns in his classic style, and finally becomes a series of simple lines.

This progression of abstraction helps both the creator and the audience.

For the creator, starting literal can help overcome a blank canvas. Because we are imperfect mirrors, attempting replication kickstarts the creation of something new. Rounds of iteration then remove the excess resulting in a refined idea that preserves the rich essence of the original.

For the audience, gradual abstraction aids acclimation by providing context. If you only saw Picasso's final line drawing, would you grasp it as clearly? Appreciate it as much? The journey prepares you to accept the evolution and get value from the next step.

In design, we often strive for Dieter Rams' ideal of "less, but better." But how do we know if our "less" achieves "better"? We have to view it in the context of "more."

The gradual abstraction of Apple’s mouse

As product makers, we have to embrace the journey of abstraction just like the great artists. Start with the fullness of the idea, the whole "bull". Get something tangible in front of people first, even if it's not the final form. Then systematically refine and distill it down to its purest essence over time.

Don't be seduced by premature abstraction that produces something clean but empty of substance. Move intentionally through a linear progression rather than trying to jump straight to the endpoint.

Appreciate that this iterative process is for your own benefit as the creator, helping you grasp the core essence of your work. But it's also for your audience, taking them along with you on the journey so the final abstraction feels natural, not jarring.

Picasso's bull is a masterclass in this creative truth.

Our products and experiences can also be masterpieces when we apply the same balanced process of abstracting the essence over time.

So study the masters, but master the study – the process itself. Make magic through the methodical evolution of your ideas.

Until next time,

Patrick