Hi, I’m Malvika.

Minimal Instinct began after the pandemic made me reconsider what I actually required for a balanced life. For two years, so much of ordinary life disappeared. When things opened up again, I expected to feel as though I had missed out, lost purpose, and fell behind. While that was true in part, I also found that I had become more thoughtful, curious and content with less. It made me wonder: what is actually worth choosing?

The name began with a play on the idea of instinct — something immediate, human and primal — alongside an interest in living with less. Over time, that question grew into a broader curiosity about how we assign value, what captures our attention, and the choices we make about how to live.

Minimal Instinct is an independent culture and lifestyle publication about living intentionally, looking at the people, places, ideas and businesses shaping how we live now.

The subjects vary, but the curiosity is consistent: what makes something worth our attention?

LET’S WORK TOGETHER

I also apply the Minimal Instinct lens to my work with select brands, founders and cultural businesses — using editorial discovery, conversation and creative direction to uncover what is distinctive, meaningful and worth paying attention to.

The work can take many forms, from editorial and photography to cultural positioning, hosted conversations and media relations, but the approach remains the same: look closely, ask good questions, find the point of view, and turn it into something people want to engage with.

For collaborations or inquiries, you can reach me at malvikathomas01@gmail.com, or learn more about my work at malvikathomas.com.

You can also find Minimal Instinct on Instagram, where we share new articles and visual reflections from the publication.