The laws of simplicity
- 2024-09-08 (modified: 2026-01-23)
- 저자: John Maeda
Ten laws
Law 1. Reduce: The simplest way to achieve simplicity is through thoughtful reduction.
The easiest way to simplify a system is to remove functionality. … The fundamental question is, where’s the balance between simplicity and complexity? On the one hand, you want a product or service to be easy to use; on the other hand you want it to do everything that a person might want it to do.
하지만 Simplicity is not the answer에 의하면 위 구분은 잘못된 프레임이다. 기능(features, functions)과 가능성(capabilities)은 다르다. 기능과 단순성 사이의 trade-off는 최후의 수단이어야 한다. 뻔한 옵션(기능 vs. 단순성) 중 하나를 고르는 건 디자인이 아니다:
“Designing isn’t about choosing among multiple options - it’s about creating options, finding a third option instead of choosing between two undesirable ones.” —Dan Saffer, Designing for interaction #
Law 2. Organize: Organization makes a system of many appear fewer.
Law 3. Time: Savings in time feel like simplicity.
Law 4. Learn: Knowledge makes everything simpler.
Law 5. Differences: Simplicity and complexity need each other.
Law 6. Context: What lies in the periphery of simplicity is definitely not peripheral.
Law 7. Emotion: More emotions are better than less.
Law 8. Trust: In simplicity we trust.
Law 9: Failure: Some things can never be made simple.
Law 10. The One: Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious, and adding the meaningful.
3가지 비법
- 멀리 보내기: 단순하게 멀리, 멀리 보내면 많은 것이 적어 보인다
- 개방: 개방해서 복잡함을 단순화하기
- 힘: 덜 쓰고 많이 얻기