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# Simple vs. Simplistic
- URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/simple-vs-simplistic/
- Published: 2025-05-14T08:55:25.000Z
- Updated: 2025-05-14T09:04:44.000Z
- Author: César Rodríguez
- Tags: Design

#249 - May.2025

**Simple** is not the same as **simplistic**.

Jony Ive put it nicely into words in a recent [interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLb9g%5F8r-mE&ref=cesarrg.com): *"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!

![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) 

**César Rodríguez**  
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