Simplicity and its application in design

Everyday we are bombarded with complexity, task, information. Simplicity is rare. But what does simplicity mean ? Simplicity means the achievement of maximum effect with minimum means. Something simple works intuitively. Simple things are made unnecessarily complicated. The simplest way to achieve simplicity is through thoughtful reduction.

Simplicity

Complex information

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Simplicity is rare

But what does simplicity mean?

“Simplicity means the achievement of

maximum effect with minimum means.

Dr Koichi Kawana - artist, designer and architect ”

Something simple works intuitively

Think of Apple’s famous Mac computer.

“It just works!”

Or Google Search.

Despite its vast and complex network of

computers and databases…

…when you want to do a search

all you see is this:

…when you want to do a search

all you see is this:

Simplicity is not simple.

Simple things are made

unnecessarily complicated.

You can complicating

John Maeda, author of

The Laws of Simplicity,

gives some advice on

how to declutter life and make it a worthwhile

experience

John Maeda, author of

The Laws of Simplicity,

gives some advice on

how to declutter life and make it a worthwhile

experience

Here are 5 of those laws

The simplest way to achieve simplicity

is through thoughtful reduction

1

When functionality is reduced

without penalty

When functionality is reduced

without penalty

true simplification is realized

Organization makes a system of many appear fewer.

2

An effective scheme for organization achieves definitive success in taming

complexity

An effective scheme for organization achieves definitive success in taming

complexity

1 Sort

An effective scheme for organization achieves definitive success in taming

complexity

1 Sort

2 Label

An effective scheme for organization achieves definitive success in taming

complexity

1 Sort

2 Label

3 Integrate

An effective scheme for organization achieves definitive success in taming

An effective scheme for organization achieves definitive success in taming

Savings in time

feel like simplicity.

3

The average person spends at least an

hour a day waiting in line

When forced to wait,

life seems

unnecessarily complex

Maximizing your available time

Time Complexity

Maximizing your available time can greatly reduce complexity.

Time Complexity

Knowledge makes everything simpler.

4

Think of a screw and a screwdriver.You just mate the screw’s head to the

screwdriver’s tip and turn

Think of a screw and a screwdriver.You just mate the screw’s head to the

screwdriver’s tip and turn

Simple, no?

Not if you’re a child and you don’t

know which way to turn.

Knowing how to execute tasks removes its inherent complexity.

Some things can never be made simple.

5

Some things can never be made simple.

5

And that’s fine.

Just know when to stop simplifying and relax.

The simplest way to achieve simplicity is through thoughtful reduction.

1

Organization makes a system of many appear fewer.

Savings in time feel like simplicity.

Knowledge makes everything simpler.

Some things can never be made simple

2

3

4

5

The simplest way to achieve simplicity is through thoughtful reduction.

1

Organization makes a system of many appear fewer.

Savings in time feel like simplicity.

Knowledge makes everything simpler.

Some things can never be made simple

Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful

If you do that

Click here to get the book at Amazon.

I’ve read it and think it is fantastic.

Want to learn the remaining secrets of simplicity?

A presentation by João Alves

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Images used in this presentation and their talented authors

1 – Attention Tree! – by Philipp Klinger

3 – County bubbles - by Ethan Hein

4 – Maze Wallpaper Green – by Tiger Pixel

5 – Cable Confusion - by e-magic

6 – four-leaf clover – by Scyza

9 – Mirror, Mirror, in the Ball – by Daniel Conway

12 – Computers – by coolpix

16 – Weird Cube – by Cieleke

17 – Eye Am Feeling Silly – by Cayusa

18 – Gear Work 2 – by Curious Expeditions

19 – Sign 4: stop – by brokenarts

22 – Desktop marauder – by Brintam

26 – 19th February 2005 – by Paul Watson

32 – 14:47 – by Emborg

33 – Birds – by djayo

34 – Nighty Night Time – by Cvalentine

37 – Light bulb 2 – by brokenarts

37 – Levitation 5 – by bizior

38 – screw 1 – by lusi

38 – screwdriver – by brokenarts

41 – Juggler – by Helico

42 – iphone to infinity for righty's – by K!T

44 – Mediterranean beach – by pale