What Is True Design? Functional Beauty Through Refinement
Can you put into words what "cool" really is?
What do we feel when we see photos of cool interiors?
Is it the color, the shape, the material? Or perhaps the "number" of things present?
In many cases, what spaces we perceive as "cool" have in common is negative space. What isn't there enhances what is. Such spaces immediately give a sense of being "well-ordered."
However, negative space is not created by "doing nothing without thinking." It is the product of a strong will, of deciding what to place and what not to place.
The Answer German Design Arrived At
In the early 20th century, the German design school Bauhaus established the philosophy that "form follows function." This idea viewed the form itself, optimized for its purpose, as beautiful, rather than using it for decorative purposes.
This philosophy was inherited by post-war German industrial design and eventually spread worldwide as a distinct style. Dieter Rams, a product designer for Braun, proposed his "Ten Principles of Good Design" in the 1970s, which still form its core.
Good design is as little design as possible.
ZACK, based in southwestern Germany, is a brand directly descended from this philosophy. For over half a century, it has continued to produce everyday items for bathrooms and toilets—towel rails, toilet brushes, soap dispensers. Looking at its product line, there is almost no decoration. No superfluous curves, no sculptural forms, no excessive color variations. All that exists is the necessary function and the material that supports it.
The honesty conveyed by materials
For subtractive design to work, there's a condition: what remains after subtracting must be beautiful on its own.
If it's wood, it's the grain. If it's concrete, it's the texture. If it's metal... it's the finish.
ZACK consistently uses 18/10 stainless steel (SUS304). This stainless steel, containing 18% chromium and 10% nickel, is highly resistant to corrosion, less prone to discoloration, and has a substantial weight. The hairline finish applied to the surface is a process of creating unidirectional streaks with an abrasive tool, which diffuses light and produces a subdued luster different from a mirror finish.
When a hairline toilet paper holder is mounted on a wall, it doesn't "exist" so much as it creates the sensation that "what should be there, is there." It doesn't assert itself, yet it's not cheap. This is the honesty of the material.
The difference is immediately apparent when compared with plated products. Plating only covers the surface, so it peels over time. Stainless steel, being the material itself, develops a patina with use. The difference between lasting 30 years or not is not a difference in design, but a difference in honesty towards the material.
The Moment Function and Beauty Align
The pinnacle of "coolness" in design appears at the moment when function and beauty align.
ZACK's towel holder is optimized for the act of hanging towels. There are no unnecessary protrusions, the mounting part is inconspicuous, and the bar is positioned where the towel naturally hangs. It's the kind of design where you notice, after using it, "Ah, this holder is well-made."
This is different from designs that make you notice them before use. The former is functional beauty; the latter is sculptural beauty. Just as with Japanese tea ceremony utensils and blades, the refined beauty of a tool only reveals itself within the context of its use.
When we seek "cool interiors," we often look for sculptural beauty. However, what truly integrates into a space over time and remains satisfying to use possesses functional beauty.
Bringing "Subtractive Design" into Your Space
When actually incorporating subtractive design into your own space, there's a first place to reconsider: the bathroom and toilet.
They are small in area, contain many items, and tend to show signs of everyday life. If you can "organize" these spaces, the impression of the entire house will change. Conversely, if these areas are cluttered with miscellaneous items, no matter how much you design the living room, the overall completeness of the space will not improve.
The criteria for selection are simple: unify the materials, colors, and finishes. Instead of placing disparate products from different brands, standardize with a series born from the same philosophy.
ZACK unifies almost all of its over 600 items with stainless steel, allowing you to match toilet brushes, paper holders, towel hooks, and soap dispensers with the same finish. The breadth of their product line lowers the hurdle of "matching."
What Lies Beyond Subtraction
Subtractive design is not poverty. It is the product of discerning judgment to identify what is truly essential.
Cool interiors speak little. Yet, something is undoubtedly conveyed to the viewer. The integrity of the material, the precision of the design, and the conviction that "this is authentic."
What German design has proven over half a century is that the more you pare away, the more the essence emerges.