Minotticucine roundtable: Yasmin Clarke’s Top Takeaways
At the recent roundtable with designerati in partnership with miontticucine – titled, Minimalism & Materiality in Luxury Design: Exploring the ‘Soul of the Surface’ – Senior Designer Yasmin Clarke joined leading voices in design and architecture to explore how restraint, texture, and material honesty shape the meaning of modern luxury.
Drawing on insights from our studio, Yasmin shared how true luxury arises not from excess, but from purity of form, meticulous craftsmanship, and the emotional resonance we create through the tactile beauty of materials.
1. Restraint
Opulence was once seen as luxury, but today, true luxury lies in intention and meaning rather than excess. By paring things back, design can draw focus to proportion, detail, and craftsmanship. This approach feels more timeless and personal than mere display.
2. Texture
Central to creating spaces that feel personal and connected to their surroundings. Luxury now goes beyond what we see, it’s about what we can feel. Touch adds emotion and depth, and texture brings a quiet richness that doesn’t overwhelm.
“During the roundtable, we gathered around a solid oak table, cut straight from a locally felled tree, full of raw natural details. We couldn’t help but referring back to it, it’s a perfect reminder of how texture creates a real sense of connection to both people and place.” – Yasmin Clarke, Senior Designer
3. Provenance
The role for us as designers in storytelling, creating a narrative that connects the design to its context and user. Provenance gives materials meaning beyond their aesthetic value. By revealing the origins and stories behind what we use, designers create emotional and cultural connections that enrich the client experience, showing that true luxury lies not just in appearance, but in authenticity and legacy.
4. Bespoke and Hand Crafted
Having something made entirely bespoke and tailored to the individual is, in many ways, the purest expression of luxury. Handcrafted pieces embody material honesty and celebrate the art of making, where human care and precision are evident in every detail. Over time, they develop a patina that tells their story, adding depth and character that only enhance their value.
