Customers want simplicity. "Don’t make me think!" we’re told. But is this true?

Examine any aspect of life that’s meaningful or pleasurable and you’ll find the opposite — complexity abounds.

Bland food is nasty. Wines, music and art are often praised for their complexity. Books or films with basic plots are tedious. Many devote their lives to mastering pursuits that require great technical skill and nuanced judgement.

Relationships are also rich and highly complex. Communication too, thrives on complexity — of vocabulary, gesture and inflection. To call something “Thought-provoking” is a compliment not an insult.

Why then the obsession with simplicity?

Because most interactions are unwanted impediments to engaging with the complex experiences that brings meaning to our lives. Distractions or obstacles that prevent flow.

Ask yourself then — what rich, complex experiences do we or could we enable? A relationship, dialogue or creative act perhaps?

No less important, consider this — how can we be less intrusive or disruptive to people's lives, rather than demanding their precious attention?

Most of the world’s best design is like a clean windshield — vital yet invisible — helping the user immerse themselves in a more complex experience.

See this post on LinkedIn