Minimalist Materialism

By William Murray | May 28th, 2004

I coined the term minimalist materialism to define the primary tenet of my pursuit of gadget nirvana. The concept is both objective and an objective. It does not carry the occasionally negative connotation of the individual words, but is meant instead as a principle to be pursued and upheld. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Let’s start with the obligatory Merriam-Webster breakdown:

minimalism (noun)

2. a style or technique (as in music, literature, or design) that is characterized by extreme spareness and simplicity

materialism (noun)

1b. a doctrine that the only or the highest values or objectives lie in material well-being and in the furtherance of material progress

2. a preoccupation with or stress upon material rather than intellectual or spiritual things

A great example of minimalist materialism is the universal remote. One well-designed universal remote can eliminate the need for multiple remotes with redundant functionality, while adding advanced capabilities that promote simplicity (e.g. macros). CableCARDs are another emerging example of the same principle: a cable company’s credit-card sized tuner, when inserted into a compatible television, replaces a separate set top box.

Unfortunately, manufacturers and consumers often fail to heed the implicit assertions of minimalist materialism, such as interoperability and standardization. Manufacturers rely on proprietary formats and technologies, such as storage media and cables, and forget about the “simplicity” part, while consumers do not plan ahead before making purchases. Sensible product purchases can simplify home theater and networking arrangements while minimizing overall expenditures and system maintenance.

With these pitfalls in mind, I will be proposing one big-picture solution in an upcoming five-part series called The Home Upgrade for the Faithful Minimalist Materialist. With that piece, I hope to connect with like-minded pro-/consumers and perhaps recruit some disciples among people in a position of industry influence, so stay tuned!