“The simplest way to achieve simplicity is through thoughtful reduction.”
My understanding
I love this quote by John Maeda! It’s saying that simplicity isn’t about just getting rid of things, but about thoughtfully reducing what’s not essential.
Simplicity doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a process of making intentional decisions to focus on what’s essential. It’s about being intentional about what we keep and what we let go of. By doing so, we can create a more streamlined and focused experience, whether it’s in design, our daily lives, or our goals.
It’s a great reminder to be mindful of what’s truly important and to eliminate the rest.
This is actually the first law of Maeda’s Law of Simplicity, which is also known as “Reduce”.
Maeda’s Law of Simplicity
Law 1 - Reduce. The simplest way to achieve simplicity is through thoughtful reduction.
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.
Reminds me
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From Dieter Rams, “Limit everything to the essential, but do not remove the poetry.”
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“A fool with a tool is still a fool.” I don’t know who said that, but it reminds me that tools, no matter how advanced, don’t replace knowledge or skill.
