The Laws of Simplicity by John Maeda
Key Takeaways
Have fewer things
Be organized
Learn as much as possible, especially about your given craft
Basic simplicity laws
1. Thoughtful reduction – be careful of what you remove. Shrink the product, hide the complexity and embody quality into product
2. Organize – makes the many appear fewer and more manageable. What goes with what?
3. Save time- savings in time feels like simplicity and waiting is associate with complexity. A reduced wait is an in amiable reward and are loyal to companies who help us achieve this. Balance between shrinking wait time and making wait time more tolerable
4. Learn – knowledge makes everything simpler. Put yourself in a first-time learner's shoes if trying to teach. Repetition is key and related to simplicity. Help people avoid desperation. Relate, translate and surprise the user.
5. Simplicity and complexity need each other – do not know fat if have only seen skinny.
6. Context – what lies in the periphery is definitely not peripheral. Be a lightbulb
7. More emotions are better than less – smiley faces in texts and emails. An object or service makes you feel something and then you feel for it (protect iPod with case) 8. In simplicity we Trust – trust those who’s skill in an area greater than your own (chef tasting menu). Trust implicitly and then adapt if necessary
9. Some things can never be made simple – and some things you do not want simplicity in
10. Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful
