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What bothers me the most when a nicely structured system blocks whole productivity styles - is how many latent innovation paths have been eliminated before they

What bothers me the most when a nicely structured system blocks whole productivity styles - is how many latent innovation paths have been eliminated before they were born. Apple has historically crossed back and forth over the line of structure whose consistency, reliability and functional simplicity enables Cambrian explosions of creativity … vs … consistencies that strangle experimentation.

JieJie 3y ago
Creative people are not know for our consistency and reliability. It is, in fact, what sets most of us apart. This may be what drives the division between the artists and engineers, despite us mostly desiring the same ends.
- Nevermark 3y ago
  Agreed about creativity vs. consistency, it is a complex relationship. Consistencies enable creativity. Painters want paint that maintains its colors, architects want materials with predictable properties. And in the other direction, most impactful expressions of creativity provide a new consistency that can be built on. New math, a new programming paradigm. Or in the art world, when an artist's body of work (over a period, or even their whole life) isn't just a show case of independent creations, but consistently demonstrates a new vision, a new technique, providing clarity that others can absorb, appreciate and build on. -- Bzilion's Law of the Value of a Consistency: The value of a consistency is proportional to how it expands creative potential, divided by the square of how much it limits it. Simply reducing extant complexity is a short sighted rational for a consistency. It is a pedantically tautological bar, despite its seductiveness for the attractive-design over ease-of-use crowd. -- Premature enforced consistency on NEW ideas is where Apple typically err's in my opinion. While well thought out preemptive strikes on outdated freedom, i.e. dropped LEGACY complexity, often showcases their genius.

JieJie 3y ago

Creative people are not know for our consistency and reliability. It is, in fact, what sets most of us apart. This may be what drives the division between the artists and engineers, despite us mostly desiring the same ends.

Nevermark 3y ago
Agreed about creativity vs. consistency, it is a complex relationship. Consistencies enable creativity. Painters want paint that maintains its colors, architects want materials with predictable properties. And in the other direction, most impactful expressions of creativity provide a new consistency that can be built on. New math, a new programming paradigm. Or in the art world, when an artist's body of work (over a period, or even their whole life) isn't just a show case of independent creations, but consistently demonstrates a new vision, a new technique, providing clarity that others can absorb, appreciate and build on. -- Bzilion's Law of the Value of a Consistency: The value of a consistency is proportional to how it expands creative potential, divided by the square of how much it limits it. Simply reducing extant complexity is a short sighted rational for a consistency. It is a pedantically tautological bar, despite its seductiveness for the attractive-design over ease-of-use crowd. -- Premature enforced consistency on NEW ideas is where Apple typically err's in my opinion. While well thought out preemptive strikes on outdated freedom, i.e. dropped LEGACY complexity, often showcases their genius.