The hottest Simplicity Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Design Topics

4 questions I ask myself when designing

Design Lobster • 679 implied HN points • 15 Apr 24
🪑 Design Process Simplicity Magic Engagement Creativity
  1. Ensure you are asking the right question in the best possible way to avoid wasting time on irrelevant problems.
  2. Simplify your designs by challenging yourself to imagine the simplest version of a solution, emphasizing substance over ornamentation.
  3. Strive to create magical designs that feel extraordinary and deliver experiences that users couldn't have imagined, aiming for delight and emotional impact.

Make it simple

Venture Prose • 519 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
💼 Business Efficiency Productivity Simplicity Meetings
  1. Efficiency comes from making every minute more valuable, intentional, and concrete.
  2. Being intentional about how you spend time, both in quantity and quality, can make you more present and purposeful.
  3. Simplicity is key - from making a good first impression in 1 minute to keeping meetings concise and effective.

In search of simplicity

The Recovering Academic • 494 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Simplicity Love Fatherhood Community Childhood
  1. Simplicity in life can bring greater joy and contentment, like the experience of a cool breeze on a perfect day.
  2. Consumerism and materialism often disguise themselves as gifts, leading to disappointment and a sense of lack.
  3. Guiding children towards simplicity while balancing the influences of a consumer-driven society is a challenging yet important task for parents.

Doing less: a personal essay

Design Lobster • 818 implied HN points • 16 Jan 23
🪑 Design Architecture Product Design Digital Design Constraints Simplicity
  1. Designers should strive to 'do less' to avoid overwhelm and prioritize what truly matters in their work.
  2. Constraints in design are essential, as they lead to simplicity and help designers convey their message effectively.
  3. In a world of technological advancements, the concept of 'less' in design becomes more relevant, urging designers to deliver more with minimal elements.
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Essence, Energies, and Excellence

Bentham's Newsletter • 137 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality God Simplicity Philosophy
  1. The Eastern Orthodox distinguish God's essence from energies: essence is mysterious, energies are knowable.
  2. Different arguments suggest the simplicity of theism, like God being an unlimited agent or having limitless power.
  3. The essence/energies distinction can support the idea that God is fundamentally simple, explaining all attributes from a basic nature.

Beauty in Simplicity

Mindful Matrix • 119 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Principles Design Simplicity Innovation
  1. Simplicity in software engineering is crucial for elegant solutions. Simple code is easier to maintain, read, and collaborate on.
  2. Prioritizing simplicity leads to streamlined debugging, improved scalability, and lower technical debt. It makes adapting and deploying software faster and more user-centric.
  3. Applying simplicity principles involves starting simple, avoiding premature optimization, focusing on core features, implementing incrementally, and leveraging existing tools. Embracing simplicity in coding doesn't mean avoiding complexity entirely, but finding beauty and efficiency in straightforward solutions.

Celebrating Simple Gifts

Who is Robert Malone • 14 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Simplicity Community Values Philosophy Tradition
  1. We often feel disconnected from each other and struggle with feelings of anxiety and emptiness. It's important to reconnect with family, friends, and community to find purpose and meaning in life.
  2. Physical labor and simple tasks can bring a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. Engaging in work with our hands helps us appreciate the world around us and cultivates peace.
  3. Simple gifts in life are valuable and can help combat negative influences from modern media and society. Focusing on these gifts can lead to a happier, more centered existence.

About that ISDA Pt 4(a): The qualities of a good ISDA

The Jolly Contrarian • 19 implied HN points • 24 Feb 24
💼 Business Contracts Negotiation Fairness Confidence Clarity Consistency Simplicity
  1. A good ISDA contract should have qualities like fairness, confidence, clarity, consistency, and simplicity.
  2. Fairness in negotiations is crucial as it fosters trust, strengthens relationships, and aligns interests between parties.
  3. Business relationships often prioritize maintaining trust and goodwill over strict adherence to contract terms, as it is more beneficial in the long run.

#75 The pursuit of simplicity

Design Lobster • 139 implied HN points • 05 Jul 21
🪑 Design Product Simplicity Communication Art
  1. Simplicity in design involves more than just removing elements - it's about reducing something to its most essential to make important relationships clearer.
  2. Apple's approach to product design involves a step-by-step process of refinement, similar to Picasso's method of simplifying his artwork to the most essential elements.
  3. Ensuring that a design communicates its purpose even when simplified is crucial - elements like width and handle design can guide users to understand functionality.

Ask your team this simple question: 'What can we subtract?'

The Kahneman Bot • 19 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
💼 Business Product Management Innovation Simplicity Teamwork
  1. Subtraction can be more effective than addition in problem-solving. Always ask 'What can we subtract?'
  2. In product development, companies like WhatsApp, Canva, and Apple have succeeded by simplifying their interfaces and products.
  3. To incorporate subtraction in product processes, reduce cognitive load, optimize notifications, and reassess onboarding. Team exercises like 'Subtract the Obvious' and 'Worst Feature Elimination' can help identify what to remove.

Five product design concepts

A Bit Gamey • 20 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🪑 Design Product Simplicity Thinking
  1. Simple design is often harder than complex design but worth it in the end. It's about stripping away unnecessary elements and focusing on core functionality.
  2. First principles thinking, 80/20 rule, MVP, and understanding user journey are important product design concepts. They help in focusing on what truly matters to users and building valuable digital products.
  3. When designing digital products, prioritize simplicity, test underlying assumptions, focus on high-value features, build MVPs for initial user feedback, and ensure a smooth user journey.

Worse is better

Sunday Letters • 59 implied HN points • 31 Oct 21
🕹 Technology Software Design Engineering User Experience Simplicity Innovation
  1. Simplicity in software design is really important. When software is simple, it’s often easier for users to understand and use.
  2. Many engineers feel pressure to add more features, which can make software more complex. This push for complexity can lead to better options for users who prefer easier solutions.
  3. Sometimes, simpler software can outperform more complex systems. Users appreciate clear and easy-to-use options, leading to the idea that 'worse is better'.

designing the obvious

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 0 implied HN points • 17 Jul 07
🪑 Design Website Design Usability Simplicity User Experience Product Design
  1. Designing the Obvious emphasizes creating websites that are intuitive and easy to use, guiding designers to build clear and straightforward interfaces.
  2. The core message is about simplifying products effectively, whether it is a website, a bicycle, or a TV, following Einstein's notion of simplicity.
  3. Avoid making users think unnecessarily by providing clear instructions and uniformity in design elements to enhance usability.

About that ISDA Pt 4(b): The qualities of a good ISDA

The Jolly Contrarian • 0 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
💼 Business Negotiation Risk management Customer Relations Simplicity
  1. Consistency in contract terms is crucial for clarity and efficiency, especially in crises when quick decisions are needed.
  2. Template simplification is valuable; strive for plain, modern language in legal documents to aid understanding and reduce negotiation time.
  3. Challenging outdated organizational forms is possible and beneficial; offering to improve them can lead to positive changes and improve relationships with customers.

Are We Secure Yet? The Mirage of Security Companies in a World of Simple Solutions

Phoenix Substack • 0 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity AI Tech Trends Simplicity Complexity
  1. There are many security companies, but we still face security issues. It’s like having a lot of cooks and still messing up the meal.
  2. A method called AMTD keeps changing defenses to stay ahead of attackers. It's like swatting a fly that won’t land—you stay unpredictable.
  3. Simplicity in security solutions is often ignored, even though simple methods can be the most effective. Sometimes, the easiest solutions are the best ones.