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1-Page Summary of The Laws of Simplicity

Overview

Do you ever look back and think about the old days when the only ways to contact someone were by phone or postal mail? Those were simpler times.

Today, we are accessible almost everywhere. We receive emails on our laptops, texts on our smartphones and Facebook messages via tablets.

Technology has helped many things in our lives, but it’s also made them more complex. Is there no escape from this complexity?

There is a way to make things simple. In fact, simplicity is sometimes the secret to success.

Businesses benefit from making things simple, but individuals can enjoy their lives more by simplifying them.

In this article, you’ll learn why your remote control is so small and simple. You’ll also come to understand why people buy sleek phones without many accessories. Furthermore, I will explain to you that it’s important to ask the chef for a personal recommendation when ordering at a restaurant. Finally, you’ll discover how simplicity can destroy someone’s bedside manner in medicine.

Big Idea #1: In this increasingly complex world, simplicity is a luxury.

Have you ever wondered why Apple products are so successful? It’s because they’re simple and easy to use. In a world that’s becoming increasingly complex, with more technology, more means of communication, and more available information, simplicity is hard to come by. As such, simple products stand out in the market.

One example of this is the iPod. It was simpler than other mp3 players on the market, and it stood out because of that simplicity. You can do this with your own products as well by making them simpler than your competitors’ products.

How can you have simplicity?

Simply put, simplicity is about removing the unnecessary and focusing on what’s important. It can be applied to all aspects of life, from technology to relationships. For example, Apple removed all the buttons except for one in order to simplify the design of their iPod music player. By reducing its complexity and doing away with extraneous features, they were able to create a more meaningful product that was easier to use. Similarly, if you love someone then simply act according to your feelings instead of wasting time on small talk or drama. In this way we can take something complex and make it simple by eliminating anything that’s not necessary so we’re left with only what matters most.

Big Idea #2: Simplicity can be attained through easy hacks like reducing functionality or shrinking the product.

So, now that we’ve seen the importance of simplicity in product design, how can we achieve it?

The best way to achieve simplicity is by removing functionality. To do that, you have to find the right balance between what’s necessary and what’s not.

For example, a TV remote could be designed with only one button. However, this would limit the functionality of any given device.

Unfortunately, there isn’t an infinite number of things you can remove from a product before it’s no longer valuable. You have to figure out what the most important functions are and take them away first.

Consumers are more accepting of limited functionality if the product is physically smaller. For example, if a remote control is really small, people may be surprised at what it can do rather than disappointed that it doesn’t have all the features of a larger remote control.

Another strategy is to create a product that looks simple, but actually has some complexity for advanced users. A good example of this is the remote control: it appears simple on the surface, but there are usually additional features hidden inside.