What is simplicity?

Simplicity means making things easy to understand or use, just like how your favorite toy works without a bunch of complicated parts.

What It Feels Like

Imagine you have two boxes of blocks. One box has 10 different kinds of blocks, some round, some square, some with letters on them. The other box only has three kinds of blocks, all the same size and shape. Which one is easier to play with? Most kids would pick the second box because it’s simpler, there are fewer choices, so you can build faster and have more fun.

Why It Matters

Think about your lunchtime. If your mom packs a sandwich that’s easy to open, eat, and clean up, that’s simple. But if she packs something that needs a knife to cut, takes forever to eat, and leaves a mess, that’s not so simple. Simple things save time and make life more enjoyable, just like how your favorite toy makes you happy without any extra work.

Take the quiz →

Examples

  1. A child uses one hand to hold a ball and the other to catch it, simple actions, no extra steps.
  2. A recipe with only three ingredients: flour, water, and salt.
  3. A person walks straight home instead of taking a long detour.

Ask a question

See also

Discussion

Recent activity

Categories: Physics · simplicity· clarity· design