BRUTALIST

PRINCIPLES

THE CORE TENETS OF DIGITAL BRUTALISM: RAW FUNCTIONALITY, DELIBERATE UGLINESS, ANTI-DECORATION

CORE PHILOSOPHY

RAW FUNCTIONALITY

Elimination of unnecessary elements. “Less is more” taken to extremes. Function over form. Always.

└─ NO DECORATION ─┘

RUGGEDNESS

Lack of concern to look comfortable or easy. A reaction against mainstream web frivolity and enforced optimism.

┌─ DELIBERATE DISCOMFORT ─┐

ANTI-POLISH

Intentional rejection of smooth, polished interfaces. Embrace the rough edges. Celebrate the imperfect.

│ BEAUTY IN UGLINESS │

VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS

BOLD TYPOGRAPHY

Oversized, geometric fonts as central elements

UNCONVENTIONAL NAVIGATION

Non-standard layouts, lack of hierarchy

MINIMAL COLORS

Stark contrasts, black and white dominance

THREE TYPES OF DIGITAL BRUTALISM

01. THE PURISTS

Basic HTML markup. Blue links. Unadorned text. Raw web in its most primitive form.

EXAMPLE: CRAIGSLIST

Unchanged since early years. Blocky grid layout.

02. UX MINIMALISTS

Functionality-focused with minimal styling. Clean grids. Efficiency over aesthetics.

EXAMPLE: BLOOMBERG

Clean, functional brutalist design

03. THE ARTISTS

Self-expression through brutalist principles. Rule-breaking approach. Creative chaos.

EXAMPLE: BALENCIAGA

Brand aesthetic emphasis through brutalism

TYPOGRAPHY SPECIMENS

MONOSPACE DOMINANCE

SOURCE CODE PRO

Primary brutalist typeface

MONACO

System fallback font

COURIER

Classic typewriter aesthetic

HIERARCHY THROUGH SIZE

H1: COMMANDING

H2: ASSERTIVE

H3: DIRECT

Body: Functional

Small: Structural

BRUTALIST MANIFESTO

WE REJECT THE TYRANNY OF SMOOTH GRADIENTS, ROUNDED CORNERS, AND PLEASANT AESTHETICS.

We embrace the raw power of digital concrete. Uncompromising. Functional. Honest.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT BEING DIFFICULT.

This is about truth in digital form. About showing the bones of the web.

FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION. ALWAYS.