Principles of Simplicity in Design

Thinking Beyond Minimalism

Joshua Hoering
2 min readDec 22, 2022
Farnsworth House Interior

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
— Leonardo da Vinci

Simplicity is about removing the unnecessary.

Focus on the core message and eliminate any unnecessary elements that distract from it.

Simple design is often more effective.

Less can be more when it comes to design, as a cluttered or overly complex design can be overwhelming and confusing to viewers.

Simplicity allows the user to focus on the content.

By eliminating distractions, simplicity allows the user to concentrate on the core message and content of the design.

Simple design is often more aesthetically pleasing.

Minimalistic design can be visually appealing and create a sense of order and cleanliness.

Simplicity allows for flexibility.

A simple design can be easily adapted and modified for different contexts and audiences.

Simple design is often more user-friendly.

A straightforward and uncluttered design is easier for users to navigate and understand.

Simplicity can convey a sense of professionalism.

A clean and well-organized design can convey a sense of competence and attention to detail.

Simplicity allows for easy scalability.

A simple design can be easily scaled up or down without losing its effectiveness.

Simplicity can be timeless.

A classic, minimalistic design can stand the test of time and remain effective for years to come.

Simplicity is not the same as minimalism.

While simplicity involves removing the unnecessary, minimalism involves intentionally including only the essentials. Both approaches can lead to simple and effective designs, but they involve different approaches.

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