The first key is AWAY— “more appears like less by simply moving it far, far away.” The example of Google is cited, whereby the user experience (query) is made simpler by keeping the result local but moving the actual work (Google’s servers processing the query) to a far away location. It is simply because the more we know the less interesting something becomes. So by moving all the details information far away from out eyes, the users are bale to just focus on what is in front of our eyes. Especially in this busy lifestyle, we all just want to get to the result right away.
The second key is OPEN— “openness simplifies complexity”. Open-source technologies achieve robustness from exposure and the collective attention that it enables. When things are open-source, they are easy to access and require less time. And especially with the help of Internet, we are able to get help or look for what we need from open-source. People like to social and share today, like all the social network sites, more and more people participate.
The third key is POWER— “use less, gain more”. Just as our planet faces the challenge of limiting consumption of limited resources, so do our designs. These very limits can produce an influx of creative spirit driven by the sense of urgency the limits introduced. In my opinion, limitation is good, because when there is a limit, we will have control. We won’t take thing for granted. Meada mentioned that we are constantly away from our devices but things have changed now after iPhone was introduced to the public. Again, we still need to charge it but it is traveling with us. So appreciate our technology devices!
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3 years agoThe tenth law is THE ONE – Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious, and adding the meaningful. I totally agree on that since it is more interesting when things are unpredictable. That’s when creativity comes in. As a designer, it is very important that solve the problem with surprising solution yet it has to make sense. For example, same story has been told for ages, but if we change it a little with an unpredictable ending. It will make the story so much more interesting.
Maeda gives us three keys to following this law: Away, Open, and Power.
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3 years agoThe ninth law is FAILURE – Some things can never be made simple. That is very true that Maeda reminds us that “there’s always an ROF (Return On Failure) when you try to simplify”. But we have to learn from our mistakes. It is true in not only in the effort for defining simplicity but also in our life. It is always good to experiment and fail in order to achieve a better result, in this case is either simplicity or complexity. Like his previous laws have stated that simplicity and complexity need to find its balance. Simplicity has its own beauty; complexity has its own beauty too. As long as it works and provides good solution that we won’t get until we try and fail.
In this law, he revisits his own laws of simplicity and concludes that simplicity itself may fall prey to this law. This is why he concludes with a single law that captures the majority share of meaning from the previous laws.
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3 years ago
