Monday, October 08, 2007

Simplicity isn't simple

There is a basic truth that I must deal with whenever I try to design something;
Simple only works from a given point of view.

Make something simple for somebody and it almost certainly makes things more complex for someone else. Often that is the value proposition to your customer. Whether you are selling goods or a service, you are saying "I am offering to make it simpler for you to get X, because I will handle the complicated details."

Of course, we often make things unnecessarily complex. Taking unnecessary complications out of your design (or your life) is like editing a movie or a well written essay. It takes a lot of attention, reflection and work to hone it down to be simple and elegant.

Much of civilization is about simplifying. We pave our land, and make buildings with smooth walls and floors because flat is simple. We create uniform laws and currencies. Every time we simplify something, it becomes a platform upon which we can build a more complex structure.

As civilization gets complex, we all eventually want to simplify our lives. When people attempt to return to the simple life, they often find out that nature is enormously complex to deal with.

It boils down to aptitude.
Whatever you are good at seems simple to you.
So, Follow your heart and life gets simpler and better.

1 comment:

Candor the Great said...

It seems to me like "simplifying" your life only attaches a greater bond between cause and effect, and has nothing to do with complexity.

-Candor's Mayhem