George Papadakis

Co-Founder & COO at Phaistos Networks. Dealing with design, code, challenges and cute Phaistonians™ 24/7.


The Design paradox

Here’s a little fact for you:

(nearly) Everything is eventually redesigned and refactored in order to look and (more importantly) feel simpler and cleaner.

Need some examples?

  • Windows
  • iOS
  • All major websites and webapps (all but Yahoo*)
  • Your house.

Here’s an obvious question:

Why not start with simple and uncluttered in the first place?

I have a couple of theories:

  • We tend to treat and translate simplicity as lack of value.
  • We tend to prefer complexity and clutter over simplicity (visually).
  • It’s easier to add than remove.
  • We know “less is better”, but we don’t actually believe it-do we?.

It takes a lot of discipline, experience and effort to break the paradox.

In my opinion, that’s when a real Designer can and should shine.

Such a designer can overcome flaws, dodge bullets and bend spoons. She/he should be able to design for the future and not for the present, to establish...

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