First Law - Reduce post
“The Laws of Simplicity” by John Maeda is what I need. There was time that I was too focus on the complexity or details and forgot about the importance of simplicity.
This book begins with the first Law, Reduce - The simplest way to achieve simplicity is through thoughtful reduction. This is the hardest I think because nowadays we have so much choices or options in our life. We have to think what to reduce and how simple can I make it etc.
It is very useful that we employ “SHE” in the progress of reduction. S as in Shrink that making things smaller or convenient. Small doesn’t mean bad these days, especially when small objects do a lot we are amazed. But I think it shouldn’t over doing it as some of the products were designed too small that they become a trouble to operate or function. The design has to be balanced. In his example, he talked about iPod; the reflective back is a way to reduce the object to the thin colored front while the back merges with the surroundings. Simple but genial solution.
H as in Hide which is hiding the complexity. A good example he showed is the Swiss army knife: you see only what you are using, the other tools are hidden. This is not only apply to product design but everyday life as well. Website is another good example. We would design website that has drop down menu, buttons or other possible hiding solution. It is also will give owner feels the sense of control in managing the expectations of complexity – they choose when to “unhide” and reveal more complex aspects of the experience. The only thing is, some products will get confusing if there are a hidden functions or control.
E as in Embody that is cited as more of a business than a technology decision, embodying is the sense of instilling the perception of quality that has been lost after Hide and Shrink. I believe good quality and design need a good balance in order to achieve a better product. Getting user feedback or review is always best way to make decision. ‘Design, technology, and business work in concert to realize the final decisions that will lead to how much reduction is tolerable, and how much quality it will embody in spite of its reduced state of being.’
-mei-
3 years ago