The Laws of Simplicity

Here are John Maeda’s ten laws of and three keys to simplicity.

Ten laws

1. Reduce
   The simplest way to achieve simplicity is through thoughtful reduction.

2. Organize
   Organization makes a system of many appear fewer.

3. Time
   Savings in time feel like simplicity.

4. Learn
   Knowledge makes everything simpler.

5. Differences
   Simplicity and complexity need each other.

6. Context
   What lies in the periphery of simplicity is definitely not peripheral.

7. Emotion
   More emotions are better than less.

8. Trust
   In simplicity we trust.

9. Failure
   Some things can never be made simple.

10. The one
    Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious, and adding the meaningful.

Three keys

1. Away
   More appears like less by simply moving it far, far away.

2. Open
   Openness simplifies complexity.

3. Power
   Use less, gain more.