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The conversation isn't about about simplicity vs complexity. It's about complicated vs complex. Poorly managed complexity leads to complicated interfaces and pr
by n_evans 15y ago
The conversation isn't about about simplicity vs complexity. It's about complicated vs complex. Poorly managed complexity leads to complicated interfaces and products that are difficult to figure out. Simple products are often very straightforward and therefore very easily understood. Complexity is good because it enables rich experiences, it just has to be understandable in order to make it accessible. Simplicity gets lots of hype, but extremely simple interactions are often less engaging experiences and less engaging over time. So, go for understandable, accessible depth! Make complex offerings that are usable by providing the right level of guidance for users along their way to understanding and making the complex functions accessible to them.
- LukasMathis 15y agoThe "complex doesn't mean complicated" counterargument always feels like people are just playing the semantics game, rather than making a real counterargument. When somebody says "complexity is bad", he or she already uses "complex" to mean "intricate, complicated". If you can hide complex functionality behind a simple user interface, it's not really a complex user interface, right?