Knowledge Leads to Simplicity

Simplification can sometimes be tough and you need to find ways to enable it. Knowledge can definitely have a positive effect on your simplification efforts. When people learn how to do something, then it becomes easy and simple. Even the most difficult task, can become easy once you know how to accomplish it.

Let's take the iPhone for example. Although every design element of it is simplified, it clearly plays on knowledge that we have. If you gave the iPhone to someone in the 60s, they wouldn't know what to do with it. But now, we know what a browser is, we generally know what to expect from an email client. We know that red hangs up a call and that green dials a number. All these elements have been beautifully used to make the iPhone the simple device that it is.

If you are stuck somewhere in your simplification process then do two things:

1. See how you can educate your user about what you want them to do the first time, and periodically. This will simplify the complete experience.
2. Use elements and processes that the user already knows in order to accomplish your task.

By user I don't mean just a digital/online user. Anyone that uses a process or element that you have designed is a user.

Remember that knowledge is power and it can lead to simplicity. Always educate people so they can understand what they have to do and soon enough, things will become simple.

Posted by Harry Mylonadis 

Have a Simple Valentine's Day!

Flower shops, card stores, jewellery shops, everything is going crazy today for Valentine's Day. The big day of the year to show your loved ones how much you love them. And come to think of it, why would you object to it? We celebrate our birth, the new year, someone else's birth, why shouldn't we celebrate our love?

That doesn't mean though that we have to turn it into a consumption festival. The most important presents are those that come from the heart. When I was thinking of what to do for my wife I decided to go old-school and remind us of our childhood. I printed a design of a pop-up card, got my crafting tools together and spent half an hour yesterday making it. Simple, fun, cool and meaningful.

Once it was ready I hid it and left it this morning on her pillow. Her reaction was exactly what I expected to a present that came from the heart.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Posted by Harry Mylonadis 

Break It Down

A very effective way to simplify any task is to break it down in very small sub-tasks. This will make it easier to complete, faster and improve the quality.

The reason is that by repeating the smaller tasks will help you optimise the process and create a system for completing the task. Through this not only you make it faster but the quality will also improve as you only need to look for errors in a small task.

Try it out and see how your work will improve.

Posted by Harry Mylonadis 

Simplicity and The Design Hierarchy of Needs

Yesterday I was revisitng a nice article by Smashing Magazine, titled Designing for a Hierarchy of Needs. Steven has done a great job applying Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to design. I personally agree with this model but I won't be talking about this today.

What I wanted to talk about is how simplicity can help you cover some of these needs. Specifically it can help you achieve the needs of Functionality and Usability.

Functionality
Functionality is one of the core elements when using simplicity in our design process. Before anything else, our design needs to include the needed functions. Not only that but through a simplification process we can identify and decide what functionality is really needed. The result is a design that provides the most needed functions while doing away with any functions that would complicate the user experience.

Usability
Usability is another core element when using simplicity in our design process. What we are designing must be functional and very usable. Through multiple revisions the aim is to make it so usable that it feels natural, familiar and doesn't need any explanations. The user is key in this process and depending on who you are designing for you need to make certain decisions. Since knowledge can make something easier to use, the target audience is a determining factor in the simplification process.

Just covering these two needs can really help you design better and create a better user experience. Design is not just about how things look but how they work. Covering these basic needs is essential and simplicity can help you do that. 

Posted by Harry Mylonadis 

BLUFing Your Message Across

I learnt about BLUFing from someone that had served for a long time in the US army. A BLUF in this case stands for Bottom Line Up Front and is one of the most effective ways to get your message across.

At school and university we learn about how we need to build up our arguments and ideas until we reach a conclusion. In this case the conclusion is the only place where we can communicate our ideas. Since that's how we've been taught, a lot of us continue communicating in this way after we leave school.

BLUFing turns this on its head. You start with your conclusion, strong idea, belief and then work on explaining it. This way you get your message across faster and more strongly. You have complete freedom to talk about your beliefs first and then move to the details if you have time. Your busy audience will also thank you for this as they can get the value first and will be more engaged.

Learn to BLUF and deliver value quickly.

Posted by Harry Mylonadis 

Tech Companies Start to Listen

The tech area is where simplicity can really thrive. People want devices that are easy and intuitive to use (i.e. no f*ing manual to read instead of RTFM). Yet for the past years companies have focused on adding features and forgetting that all that matters is the user experience.

Thankfully this year's CES is indicating that things are changing. I was reading this article today that talks about the new gadgets currently on display at CES. Companies have started moving away from the overcomplicated do-it-all-in-one-and-make-it-big trend to more focused devices that pay attention to the user experience.

This is the future and the only way forward. Focus on the experience you want to offer to your customers and give it to them in the easiest way.

Posted by Harry Mylonadis 

It's a New Year, It's a Simple Start

The new year started officially for companies today in the UK (yesterday was a public holiday). With this new start it's your opportunity to start fresh and keep things simple.

You can start by simplifying your workspace and then your processes. For the former, start by clearing everything out and start adding back only the essential (trust me, it will feel good). For the latter, more work needs to be done. Before you start doing everything that you used to do, take a step back and examine. What steps are you taking? Can some of these be removed, outsourced, delegated? If so, do it. Don't second guess, just do it. If it doesn't work you can always go back. If it does, you will save a big amount of time.

These are two things that are guaranteed to simplify your worklife and start moving you towards the right directions. If you run into any problems, let me know. 

Posted by Harry Mylonadis 

You'll Get Used To It

About a year ago I was in the market for a new car (exciting times). I decided to test drive a few different makes and models before deciding on which one to get.

So I made my way to a very popular dealership to test drive one of their best selling models (I won't mention which one it is as this is not a "flaming" post). We all got in the car, started driving the car and everything went well. As I was driving on the motorway I started approaching a red signal. I stopped waited patiently and when the time came I engaged the gear to start. That's when I started going in reverse! What's happening I shouted inside my head! The kind car salesman that insisted to come with us on the test drive told me that I should be more careful as the reverse gear is right next to the first and there is no lock mechanism. We finished the test drive, returned the car and the salesman didn't hear from us again.

The next day I was describing the incident to a friend that owns the same car. Her reply? "Oh yes, well you get used to that. It's only the first few times and then you'll get the hang of it."

By now you might be wondering how this is even possible. Why would someone do this? Yes I understand that you can get used to such an annoyance, but why have it in the first place? Instead, when you design something, do everything you can to make the experience intuitive and easy. Simplify it until you can use it without even having a manual.

Apple did it with the phone, tablet and computer, so there's no excuse when it comes to simplifying the use of a gearbox.

Posted by Harry Mylonadis 

It's the Most Commercial Time of the Year

Either now or in the past we've all gone through this period thinking how much is enough and how we can find a good balance. My advice would be to always simplify and focus on what's important.

When it comes to gifts, focus on the most important part of the gift which is who you are giving it to and how you can make it more personal. It's not about the cost (spend what you can afford), it's about creating a stronger bond with the person you are giving it to. Do something that is personal and even better something that you can enjoy together.

For decorations, less is more. You can easily get carried away and create a Christmas Decoration Monster. The essentials will do and some xmas accents in your everyday decor will be more than enough.

For your lunches and dinners, why exactly do you need that much? For some reason we have got into a mentality that during Christmas we need to double our quantities and calorie intakes. Instead, put that energy into making the best of the things you have planned.

I've been applying these practices for the past couple of years and they have really helped me. I hope they do the same for you.

Posted by Harry Mylonadis 

The 2011 Global Brand Simplicity Index

Top 10 Brands in Global Brand Simplicity Index 2011. Image property of Siegel+Gale

Siegel+Gale has published this year's report on the results of their global brand simplicity survey, which can be downloaded from their website.

The value of simplicity is continuing to increase and people have started demanding it. The good news are that the industry is listening to what the consumers want and are making experiences that make life simpler for them.

This year's Index digs deeper and does a much more thorough analysis. Download it, read it and start applying simplicity to what you do

Posted by Harry Mylonadis