10 basic thoughts to keep your interface simple
John Maeda, in one of his works “The Laws of Simplicity”, proposes some rules about the simplicity of interfaces. He also made a clear connection between sanity and simplicity. So here are the 10 basic thoughts to keep an interface simple.
- Reduce, focus on the necessary!
What does the user need? Keep to the basics, thus reducing the user’s effort to use the interface.
2. Organize, leave everything in the obvious place!
Do not allow the information to become chaos, organize the information so that it looks nice so that you “just look”, and that it is easy for those who want to read.
3. Time, save your user’s time!
Do not leave your interfaces with long effects or with long loading times; the user does not like to wait for his interface to do something (300 ms is the limit!).
4. Learn, the user must learn fast!
Some functions in the interface can end up being difficult at first, but they can never be challenging to learn. After executing the action once, the user must be able to perform the same action as many times wanted smoothly.
5. Differences, simplicity needs complexity!
Some things, even if simple, will be considered complex, don’t try to fight it.
6. Context, focus!
Its interface cannot attract more attention than the content. Content is the user’s goal; it’s what really matters; other things shouldn’t attract so much attention.
7. Emotion, people want their things, their way!
Your target audience determines your interface; a flat interface may not please everyone. Something that shows that the interface is for those people is always welcome.
8. Trust, the user wants to know what will happen!
The innovation is good, but care must be taken not to change the interaction patterns known and used by the user.
9. Failure, some things cannot be simple!
Some things just can’t be simple, assume.
10. The only rule, less of the obvious and more of the significant!
Replace the obvious with the meaningful as it can change our lives.
