Sharpen your products with Occam’s Razor
The simplest explanation is usually the correct one.
We all have heard this expression multiple times in various scenarios. This principle is actually the “Occam’s Razor”, named after William of Ockham, a 14th-century philosopher, although he never phrased it exactly as “Occam’s Razor.” Ockham’s original statement of the principle, in its most common form, is “Pluralitas non est ponenda sine necessitate”, which translates from Latin to “Plurality should not be posited without necessity”.
Occam’s Razor has applications in product development and UX design. It can be applied to create more user-friendly and efficient products by eliminating unnecessary features and complexity. The principle suggests that the simplest product design that meets the users’ needs is often the best approach.
Focus on User Needs: The simplest solution should address the core user needs effectively. Don’t add unnecessary features or functionalities that complicate the product and potentially overwhelm users.
Example: When Uber first launched, it focused on the core user need: getting a ride quickly and easily. Their app initially just had two options — “Get a Ride” and “View Past Trips.” This simple approach addressed the core need and streamlined the user experience.
Keep it Lean: When designing features or functionalities, prioritize what’s essential. Complex interfaces or convoluted user journeys can be confusing. Occam’s Razor suggests streamlining the user experience by focusing on intuitive and easy-to-understand interactions.
Example: The best example for this is Google search. It’s iconic white background, clean and minimalist look embodies the principle of streamlining, prioritizing ease of navigation and simplicity.
Start Simple, Iterate Gradually: Often, a basic version with core functionalities can be a great starting point. Gather user feedback and iterate on the product based on actual needs rather than overloading it with features from the beginning.
Example: Instagram initially offered photo filters but required navigating through menus to access them. Later, they applied Occam’s Razor by adding basic editing options directly within the camera interface. This simplified the photo editing process based on user feedback and addressed a key pain point.
Beware of Feature Creep: Adding features without a clear purpose can bloat the product and make it less user-friendly. Occam’s Razor reminds us to prioritize features that directly address user needs and avoid getting caught up in bells and whistles.
Example: Yahoo Mail was once a dominant email service, but over time, it added features like instant messaging, calendar integration, and news feeds. This cluttered the interface and made it less user-friendly for those who simply wanted a basic email experience.
These products have achieved success(or gone astray) by focusing on simplicity, proving that a minimalist approach can lead to a better user experience and product functionality. They demonstrate how reducing complexity and focusing on the essentials can create products that are not only easy to use but also highly effective.
