On Oct 30, 2008, at 4:32 PM, mark schraad wrote:
Guiding principles such as John's are often too simplistic (pun
unintended but acknowledged). There are nearly always compromises
with simplicity. I find that construction of a solution, followed by
removal of its elements... until it breaks - to be a pretty
effective exercise.
No offense, but this statement sounds contrarian for the sake of being
contrarian. Maeda's Laws of Simplicity are:
01. Reduce: The simplest way to achieve simplicity is through
thoughtful reduction
02. Organize: Organization makes a system of many appear fewer
03. Time: Savings in time feel like simplicity
04. Knowledge: Knowledge makes everything simpler
05. Differences: Simplicity and complexity need each other
06. Context: What lies in the periphery of simplicity is definitely
not peripheral
07. Emotions: More emotions are better than less
08. Trust: In simplicity we trust
09. Failure: Some things can never be made simple
10. The One: Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious, and adding
the meaningful
Maeda's book is not attempting to define simplicity as a means of
measurement or as a recipe. It attempts to describe qualities about
things that we feel are simple, and explain why that is. Note that
even Maeda says some things can never be made simple in Law #9. In
that regard, Maeda's book is fairly spot on with regards to discussing
what it takes to achieve simplicity, regardless of the actual measure
you need to use to determine if you have been successful.
In that regard, it's a fairly significant book that everyone should
read, imho.
--
Andrei Herasimchuk
Principal, Involution Studios
innovating the digital world
e. [EMAIL PROTECTED]
c. +1 408 306 6422
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