Who the F*ck is Ludwig Mies van der Rohe?

For those that do not live and breathe design, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe might not be a familiar name. Nevertheless, his influence can be seen in many of your favorite cities, buildings, and even within interior design.

Mies was one of the greatest architects of the 20th century—a legend who rewrote the book on modern design. His whole philosophy revolved around stripping things down to their core essence: clean lines, open spaces, zero fluff, and a lot of windows. He believed that every architectural element should contribute to a unified expression.

Mies wasn’t about grand gestures or flashy details. He believed that the real beauty of design was in simplicity and function. This is exactly where his famous phrase “Less is more,” comes from. This is a design principle that we hold in a very high esteem at Insideout. We want to cut through the noise with simple, timeless, yet bold and beautiful pieces. 

Throughout his life Mies made a name for himself with iconic structures like the Seagram Building in New York, one of the first skyscrapers of its kind that shaped modern city skylines. He also designed Crown Hall at the Illinois Institute of Technology, a building that perfectly embodies his “less is more” mantra. A beautiful open space designed that Mies himself described as “almost nothing.” 

Another masterpiece, and my personal favorite, is the Farnsworth House in Illinois, a minimalist glass box raised on stilts, which blurred the lines between indoor and outdoor living. This wasn’t just a house; it was a work of art that demonstrated Mies’s love for transparency and connection with nature​. Pictured below, you get the sense of how he was able to place this beautiful structure in nature and elevate the landscape.

Mies also redefined high-rise living with his 860-880 Lake Shore Drive apartments in Chicago, designed with massive windows offering stunning views of Lake Michigan. Lake Shore Drive became one of the most influential buildings of the 1950’s and 1960’s. Coolest thing about this building is people still live in it today and can feel the influence of Mies in their own living spaces.  But Mies didn’t just stop at architecture—his furniture designs were equally influential. 

Pieces like the Barcelona Chair and Brno Chair are perfect examples of his philosophy in practice. Both are elegant, minimalist, and made with modern materials like leather and stainless steel. His furniture wasn’t just about aesthetics, though; it was designed to be functional, comfortable, and timeless. These pieces have become design classics, found everywhere from museums to chic interiors, proving that simplicity never goes out of style​. 

More than anything, Mies was a revolutionary who changed the way we think about design. Whether you’re admiring a sleek skyscraper, stepping inside a glass-walled house, or sitting on a Barcelona Chair, his influence is everywhere. He didn’t just leave behind buildings and furniture—he left a legacy of design principles that continue to shape how we live, work, and create. These same principles guide us at Insideout, which is why we felt it was only right to honor him with this shirt.

The "Modernism" shirt honoring Ludwig Mies van der Rohe drops this Friday.