Nature tends to entropy, so why do we love minimalism so much a contra-nature feature?
Minimalism is artificial.
We cannot find minimalist in nature in a non artificial way (not recurring to specialized tools to see atoms for instance), or in a pure state like a perfect sphere.
Consider an Atom as the building block of matter. Much like a pixel,it doesn’t define alone the design that can be minimal or complex in turn. Nature is minimal only in concept (laws of physic, theory of evolution.. etc), never in shape.
Its our understanding (or lack of) of nature that makes it simple. Left alone, nature will tend to entropy; the opposite of minimalism. On the other hand if you leave some entropic medium alone long enough some orderly pattern will emerge sporadically and by chance. This is by no means the same as minimalism, but its closer to the latter concept then to complexity.
It takes simplicity to end in entropy, and complexity (stripped out bit by bit) to archive minimalism.
The love for minimalist comes from the fact that it permits the mind to master it. A good metaphor to understand this is to think about layers: something small can’t hold something bigger. Something complex can’t be mastered by something simpler.
The human mind is extremely complex and loves what’s complex, but always in a level below its own complexity. Once exposed to something simple the mind will embrace it faster than if it was complex because this will permit instant comprehension, allowing the individual to move for the next task.
It’s also related with the evolutionary processes. A minimalistic approach will always beat a more complex one with the same features, as it will be more effective, and will permit more things to be achieved.
The same principles apply in design.
further reading:
Minimalist Design
International style
Lessons From Swiss Style Graphic Design
John Maeda on the simple life
Minimalist Web Design: When Less is More
Entropy