Simplicity

Some people often say that simple things are bland and boring.

I suppose it really comes down to a matter of preference. Something as complex and ornate as the Parliament building in London can be pretty amazing, where every stone column is uniquely carved. At the same time, the Pyramids, formed as incredibly simple shapes, are just as awe-inspiring.

But simplicity as a business concept is much different. People are faced with choices every day, ranging from what kind of shampoo to use, to what bank they should get loans from, to where they’ll go on vacation.

All of these add up to hundreds of choices every day. And the fact is, it takes a lot of time just to navigate and figure out all the options. In the end, the ones designed most simply will be used, mostly because it saves us both a lot of time and a lot of headaches.

For instance, most instruction manuals are so laden with confusing text and images, people never take the time to read them. But an IKEA manual for putting together a chair or bookshelf is so incredibly intuitive that you want to open the booklet and follow along.

Sometimes simplicity just seems too simple. Like there’s something missing. Yet it takes far more thought and care to design a minimal, workable system than to create a complex, confusing, and cluttered one. All of the waste and excess in things need to be deleted, leaving only meaningful and helpful content.

Simplicity matters. It makes your business easier for customers to figure out, and it makes everyone’s life more enjoyable.