Grief, Art, and Aloha: Crafting a Minimalist Memorial Design for My Brother, Nat

When my uncle passed away a couple of years ago, I shut down my work and started to design. It seems like design is a way for me to tell a story about my loved ones without talking. At times, talking is hard after a loss, so telling a story through design is a way for me to project outward.

As I did with my uncle, I did the same again for one of my best friends, my brother, Nat Pagmanua. I shut down and started designing. The first question I asked myself is how do I tell a story that covers Nat’s life while maintaining the integrity of my minimalist design philosophy? The simplest designs are the most difficult to pull off, and after a brief meditation session and prayer, I was able to put together something for Nat, we did it together.

Here’s the breakdown of the design’s symbolic layers:

The Philosophy Behind Minimalist Memorial Design

My approach to a minimalist memorial design is not about emptiness, but about precision. Every line, every placement, and every space must carry maximum meaning.

Space and Geometry: Representing Eternity and Peace

• Open White Space: Represents the open universe where Nat can roam freely. The white color equates to the light of the universe and peace.

• Dates (Entry and Exit): Nat’s entry and exit in physical form from earth. The full sphere represents the sun rise, while the half sphere represents the sunset.

Locations: Pinpointing Home and Heart

• Daly City, California: The city where Nat resided, marked with coordinates to pinpoint his location on the earth’s surface.

• Waianae, Hawai’i: The city in Hawai’i where Nat’s heart and soul rested in physical form, and where his family calls home. The Waianae coordinates pinpoint where Nat’s heart rests for eternity.

Loved Ones: The Central Meaning of the Design

The most important elements of the minimalist memorial design were the people Nat loved and who loved him.

The Six Dots of Family

The simple cluster of six dots represents the most important people in his life:

• Top 3: Jacquelyn, Jaidyn, and Jaxsen (Wife and Kids).

• Bottom 3: Jamie, Nat, Jameyline (siblings).

• The Bottom 3: Also represent Nat, Jamie, and You. Wherever the twins were, you were with them.

Nat’s Name and Overlook

• Nat Pagmanua: From the outside it may look like it’s Nat’s name, and it is. But Nat sits on top, overlooking everything from the highest point in the universe. Below is his home locations and loved ones, while he’s above watching over us.

Aloha and Heritage: The Hawaiian Connection

The design is sealed with the place that defined Nat’s spirit and heritage.

• Hawaii Islands (On the Full Clothing Design): Represents the Islands that Nat loved and held close to his heart, his home. Being Hawaiian is what Nat lived by. He carried the Hawaiian Islands on his shoulders, which is why the Islands are placed in the top center. From a personal standpoint, both the Pagmanua and Taniguchi families are from the Hawaiian Islands, so it was only right that I stamp the design with a place that we’re both tied to, and it’s a place that we shared memories together.

I’m sure as time ticks and the future becomes the present, I’ll find myself crafting more pieces for Nat. Energy, frequency, and vibration, eternal exploration. I love you brother.

Thank you for reading.

Peace.

-Mark-