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 

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 

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 

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 

Laconic Speaking

I must have been in primary school when I first learnt about Laconic speaking. The best definition for Laconic speaking (which was a way of speaking in Ancient Greece) is to speak tersely. Which means to speak briefly, neatly and be effectively concise.

As a kid I was fascinated by the idea and tried to practice it, to the confusion of my family and friends. Still, I thought it was one of the best ways to speak. I still think that it has a lot of merits when it comes to communicating ideas and thoughts with others.

It forces you to basically stop beating around the bush and get straight to the point. Doing it by just communicating what is necessary to make your point, no more no less. I think it was the Ancient Greeks' contribution to the simplicity practice. Having this practice in mind really helps in communication. If you want to confront me, you have to say it to my face. If you didn't like what I did, you need to tell me what it was. If you disagree with what I said, you have to say it briefly.

Imagine how many long meetings, phone calls, conference calls and coffees we could avoid if we all practiced Laconic speaking. I'm not saying that we should embrace it 100% but practicing it can help us become better and more effective at communicating. It also gets us into the practice of boiling down our thoughts, simplifying them and clearly communicating them.

Posted by Harry Mylonadis 

Repetition Leads to Simplicity

When we do something all the time, even if it is a complex task, after a while it starts feeling easier.

This is how our brain works and in its efforts to make our life easier, it helps us by making complex repetitive tasks seem simpler. This is something that can be used to our advantage when we design something.

What you need to do, is repeat unavoidable complex tasks so that the user can get used to them. Throughout the process that you are designing, make sure that they have the chance to use this specific part over and over. The more times they use it, the simpler it will look to them.

This is all about repetition and exposure. I you can't remove it then repeat it to make it easier.

Posted by Harry Mylonadis 

Facebook Focuses on Simplicity, Again

If you ever tried using the privacy settings on Facebook, you'll remember how painful it was. There were six options allowing you to share with “Everyone”, “Friends of Friends and Networks”, “Friends and Networks”, “Friends of Friends”, “Friends”, or a custom group. How confusing is that?

With all the attention Google+ received for its simplified circles, Facebook decided to take it a step further and simplify even more. Now (the new privacy setting should be available to all of you by now) you have three options, you can share with "Everyone", "Friends" and custom. Short, simple and useful. I'm sure a lot of people will say that there are not enough options, but in reality Facebook has made the right choice.

From a user perspective, this change covers all my needs. What I care about is what I share with people that know me and those that don't. On top of that, they have allowed for the option of creating smaller specific lists so I can share with them even more personal opinions. What else do you need?

It makes me very happy to see that companies are now focusing on creating a simpler web experience for their users. With all the clutter, noise and options, simplicity can be something that makes you stand out and satisfy your customer needs.

Posted by Harry Mylonadis 

What Google Does That You Don't

When Google launched Google+ a couple of months ago, it showed how much effort they are putting in creating a more consistent and simple user experience.

The key "selling point" of Google+ is its simple privacy controls using circles. They focused on what has been bothering people for some time now and created an easy to use and understand interface. This shows how much a service can be improved by simplifying and focusing what people need instead of adding as many features as possible.

Another thing that Google has worked on extensively, is creating a consistent and clear interface. Inconsistent web layouts and buttons have been replaced with a consistent colour scheme and buttons that call for action. If you use Google's other products (mail, calendar etc.) then you get an even better experience. Everything is there, you can switch from your emails, to your newsfeed, to your social feed without having to change applications and services.

By focusing on what people need and what is essential, Google has managed to launch what seems to be a great competitor to Facebook. The consistent and simple experience have been welcomed by everyone and made people feel a bit safer while sharing online.

Posted by Harry Mylonadis 

What Facebook Does That You Don't

About a month ago, Facebook introduced their new Video Calling feature. When you look at how it works and the features, it's obvious that they have focused on simplifying the experience of video calling.

Here are some points that show how they have made the experience simpler:

• There are no controls. Apart from the very basic full screen, minimise and close everything has been removed. This is to ensure that the interface is as simple as possible and there is no confusion on what you can do during the call.
• Video window is at the top. When you first start the call the video starts just beneath the camera, this helps you have some eye contact with the other person by looking at an area closer to the camera.
• Your picture is not in the way of the call. Your picture, which is usually placed in the call window, is so small that while it's there it doesn't become your centre of attention.
• The only active window is the video call window. While you are on a video call you cannot do anything else on facebook. This makes for a better interaction as it focuses your attention on the call and not at browsing pages and profiles.

Overall the lead designer, Rob Mason, has applied several simplicity principles to create an interface that is easy to use, innovative and creates a better experience. One thing that you will notice is that he had to sacrifice certain features to make the ones that are important easier to use. What we are left with is a service that works as it should and moves the focus to the call you are having and not to the bells and whistles.

Take Facebook's example and simplify. In order to be innovative you need to have the guts to sacrifice certain features in favour of the more essential ones.

Posted by Harry Mylonadis 

The Beauty of Enough - Encore

Continuing from last week's post, knowing when you have enough can also help you simplify and avoid complexity.

You need to be able to see when you have achieved enough and cover most of the needs. Trying to cover everything usually leads to complexity. Take software development for example, trying to cover the features of all your users will probably end up in a very complex application. Instead find what enough is to make the application useful and usable.

Knowing what enough is can help you achieve great results. Stop thinking about everything and focus on what's important and useful.

Posted by Harry Mylonadis