Our September theme is Simplicity, chosen by our Gothenburg chapter and illustrated by Jessica Jämting.

In the design traditions of Scandinavian and Japanese minimalism, the paring down of possessions creates a greater sense of tranquility and ease. Simplicity invites us to imagine how rich we might feel when we make do with less.

But put another way, what if we imagined simplicity not in terms of absence but essence? In a world of confounding variables, layers of additional nuance and context, and the mind-boggling complexity of systems upon interdependent systems, simplicity drives us to get to the deep core of the matter. The etymological roots of simplicity refers to a single, indivisible nature. The heart unifies the whole.

Where can you exercise restraint and streamline excess? How will you find clarity amidst chaos?

We asked you, What form does simplicity take in your life? How do you pare back complexity and overwhelm? What feels, at its core, essential?

To this community, simplicity looks and fees like…

The Whelm

When I’m feeling the “whelm,” thinking about the little things always sparks joy. I believe in storing those feelings away for rainy days. — Rhea Zaveri, Austin, TX, U.S.

The Water

I find solace in our amazing beaches, looking at the water and the shoreline are incredibly soothing and taking walks in nature, be it at one of my favorite local parks or my neighborhood. A canopy of trees and sitting on a bench listening intently to birds chirping is a must for me and something I do regularly. Breathing fresh air and taking note of everyday beauty that surrounds me gives me life. — Josie Gulliksen, Miami, FL, U.S.

The Essence of a Thing

I needed a penguin as the titular character of my book. So I drew the essence of one (it looks nothing like a penguin, but FEELS like one) in 12 seconds. — Low Lai Chow, Singapore

The Orange Cat Life

` When I feel overwhelmed with too much to do, I ask myself, “if I were my cat, would I care in a few months/years if this things goes well?” 80% of the time, the answer is a “nah~ yawn/stretch”. Learning to let go of expectations from Master Meow. — Jenny Z, “Anonymous cat mom working in sustainability field” will do”, Hong Kong

Seeing a Flower

The simplicity of a flower on a sunny morning. — Maria Louceiro, Berlin, Germany

Untitled.

— Travis Bumgarner, Full time Nomad

Looking With Open Eyes

I love creating collages, I have created a collage inspired by the word simplicity. For me simplicity is looking at the world with open eyes to catch little mysteries hidden behind simple things, simple details. — Ellen Creativity, Italy

The White Cat Life

Sometimes simplicity is a white cat.— Susan Lucas Hoffman, Charleston SC, U.S.

Violin Time

Time is always an issue for me. This self-portrait really describes my relationship with time since, “"I’m trying to play with time all the time — Ebru Winegard, Toronto, Canada

Simplicity Vs. Multiplicity

I chose an original artwork inspired by a detail of Botticelli’s Venus and Mars. My painting both honors and discredits its source. While seeming to wryly critique the long tradition of artistic appropriation, its genesis sprung from my belief that often simplicity—not multiplicity—can be most beautiful. — Jesse Green, Minneapolis, MN, U.S.

A Day On The River

A long, never ending summer day on the river - the ever flowing river of my childhood , where you can simply sit on the bench and get impregnated by the rhythm of nature that is always in motion and never in rush. Free from expectations, full of sensations, out of time, and in the moment, sharing the pleasures of being in life.

— Katya Stoycheva, Europe, Bulgaria, Sofia

The Ultimate Destination

Simplicity* is the ultimate destination for complex thinking, in my case. Simplicity is a goal, a final resolution to something that may have been a struggle to see amongst the tangles. As a creative visual designer simplicity is almost an ultimatum. I often have to ask myself ‘Is this the simplest way to communicate something?’ ‘How much can I remove from my creation without it losing meaning?’. So my submission is a framework of those questions, I guess. *great theme

— Ana Grigorovici, London, UK

Movement

See the film
A long, never ending summer day on the river - the ever flowing river of my childhood , where you can simply sit on the bench and get impregnated by the rhythm of nature that is always in motion and never in rush. Free from expectations, full of sensations, out of time, and in the moment, sharing the pleasures of being in life. — Chiara Losio, Italy

A Different Way of Learning

The Chris & Frankie method makes the piano more accessible that it’s ever been. Because of the simplicity it turns readers into pianists. — Christopher E. Singleton Sr., Charlotte, NC, U.S.

The Small Details

A man carrying a bag is passing by the street just outside of a butcher shop very illuminated. He is almost just a silhouette. The butcher is reclined, picking something from the ground. The meat is exposed in vitrines. I loved the contrast between the light and the shadows. It showed me the epic sense of the small things. The simplicity. Title: Casa de Carnes Alentejo: a butchery in Laranjeiras neighborhood.Butchery = açougue. — Pablo Lara H, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Objects Around Us

I believe objects in your space give you feedback. Simply, the power of design. I love fluid shaped mirrors and quiet corners with a chair. It’s there to remind me, I have no time to rush and keep it effortfully simple. — Bo Lee, Los Angeles, CA

Art

My poem Simple Rejection was in response to a rejection of my art submission to an art gallery. My image is not the same as was submitted but is in a similar “naivety” genre.

— Rosaleen Crowley, Indiana, U.S.

The Essential Marks of Time

Every year, I write a brief literary time capsule on my birthday, to capture the most essential aspects of life at this moment. Every year, I’m struck by how the simplest things (tomatoes in the garden, my old dog’s white face, a third unpublished novel) make the list. As far as rituals go, it couldn’t be easier or more profound.

This is my capsule for year 41— Chrissy Hennessey, Wilmington, NC, U.S.

The Heart of a Thing

As a visual artist, my favourite internal mantra for creating my work was gained from my tutor at art college, "Remove the superfluous to make what remains more meaningful”

— Richard Hyde, Derbyshire, UK

Knowing When To Say YES

As a single mom, I have to seek simplicity in creative ways. For me, life is going to be full for the foreseeable future as I provide for my children and myself, but I distinguish between “full” and “busy” by saying yes to opportunities that give me energy rather than depleting it.

— Daytona Danielsen, Seattle, WA

Joy

I wrote this poem reflecting on how simple it might be to enJOY our lives. Too often we are walking, face down, nose to the pavement, and don’t even realize how brilliant and bright the day is. It is my hope that we can simply see how abundant joy is—all around us— if we just choose to see it.

— Sarah Woo, San Diego, California, U.S.

The Softening of Things Over Time

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I wrote this poem reflecting on how simple it might be to enJOY our lives. Too often we are walking, face down, nose to the pavement, and don’t even realize how brilliant and bright the day is. It is my hope that we can simply see how abundant joy is—all around us— if we just choose to see it. — Michelle Nieweg , Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Haiku

The haiku form is a powerful practice in simplicity, and I enjoy distilling my thoughts into a few words and stanzas that flow into one another. This poem is also about simplicity - distilling the meaning of life in a small moment of contemplation. — Kiam Marcelo Junio, Chicago, IL, U.S.

Confetti

I have been writing through the lens of attention and what resonates throughout the work is the beauty of simplicity in our lives which, when disconnected we often overlook or disregard. Simplicity equates to beauty, peace and abundance to me. — Danielle Lewis-Egonu, England

Tunes That Are Simply…Enough.

The combination of originality and simplicity is a difficult duo to capture in music production. This song, Adieu Lullaby, is an attempt at paring back the usual (and often unnecessary) complexity of electronic music to reveal a track with soft, nostalgic, and modest sounds that are simply…enough. — Logan Hunter —  aka LO, Italy

Living Smaller

Screenshot 2023-09-06 at 11.42.04 AM

My partner, and I have moved towards a less materialistic way of living our life, which has put us at odds with how many of our family and friends live their lives. Despite this we are moving towards smaller, living and creating a smaller carbon footprint in this world, because we feel it’s important for us to live more like our indigenous and native ancestors from the Chihuahua desert. — Miguel Briones, Austin, TX, U.S.

Sweetness

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I would like to send a poem I have written in February 2022 (initially in French), which I think applies to the “Simpliciity” theme. It reminds me what is essential to humanity: the marvels of nature and the sense of community. — Octavie,The French Riviera

Body Love

I’m sharing a recent reflection on how sometimes, getting out of our own way is maddeningly simple, and can be cut down the root of love. — Avani Patel, Atlanta, GA, U.S.