Keeping it Simple
Originally published on: https://hvpandya.com/keeping-it-simple
Simplicity is usually the goal of good design. Simplicity is also one of the hardest virtues to inculcate in large product organisations at scale. As products grow, things tend to trend towards complex thinking, complex solutions and complex execution. Like tight alignment, simplicity is a goal that demands constant and conscious effort.
The burden of pushing for simplicity in the org falls on the few who can devise and implement a consistent framework, project after project. There’s one such framework that I have created for myself. Having tested it over the course of ~2 years of rigorous product development, I am fairly confident in its day-to-day utility.
So here goes – every time I sit down to edit solution approaches, I run it through these 10 points:
Simple is when it’s fast
Simple is when there are no complicated choices to make
Simple is when it’s so intuitive that I can move forward with my brain pretty much on autopilot
Simple is when it fits into my existing behaviour and builds on my existing understanding
Simple is when it’s clear when an action is expected from me
Simple is when I can confidently predict what happens next
Simple is when it’s sequentially linear where I perform one thing at a time
Simple is when my mistakes are tolerated with generous affordances to fix them
Simple is when it obeys the laws of physics and hence feels ‘natural’ in its form
Simple is when it remains consistently reliable over time
Every time you think you’ve arrived at something simple, know that you’re at least 3 points off, from this list. Iterate more.
This framework helps evade a majority of issues with any design.
Obvious caveat: If you’re innovating on something new and groundbreaking, this framework will not really be helpful since you will take a very different path. Feel free to ignore this completely.