Simple vs. Simplistic
#249 - May.2025
Simple is not the same as simplistic.
Jony Ive put it nicely into words in a recent interview: "People think simplicity is about removing clutter. For me that means that you (only) end up with an uncluttered product."
But simplicity is just a manifestation. At its core, simple designs are a way to express the real purpose of a product.
I often fall into this false (simplistic) assumption that by removing clutter I'm creating a better experience. But what typically happens is that I sacrifice function as well. The mindset is wrong.
True simplicity handles complexity under the surface - complexity users never need to see or understand. Simple experiences are hard to design.
Being simplistic, on the other hand, is over-indexing on simplification but lacking depth and soul.
As John Maeda wisely put it, simplicity is about "subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful."
¡Saludos!
