The Laws of Simplicity

(Paperback)

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Description

World renowned graphic designer and one of Esquire's 75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century," John Maeda gives the ten laws of simplicity for business, technology, and design, that teach us how to need less but get more. Finally, we are learning that simplicity equals sanity. We're rebelling against technology that's too complicated, DVD players with too many menus, and software accompanied by 75-megabyte "read me" manuals. Apple made simplicity hip. But sometimes we find ourselves caught up in the simplicity paradox- we want something that's simple and easy to use, but also does all the complex things we might ever want it to do. In The Laws of Simplicity, John Maeda offers ten laws for balancing simplicity and complexity in business, technology, and design-guidelines for needing less and actually getting more. Maeda-a professor in MIT's Media Lab and a world-renowned graphic designer-explores the question of how we can redefine the notion of "improved" so that it doesn't always mean something more, something added on.

Reviews

"If brevity is the soul of wit, simplicity is the soul of design. John Maeda uses the concept of simplicity to get at the nature of human thought and perception while drawing out tangible applications for business, technology, and life in general. The Laws of Simplicity is thoroughly optimistic, entertaining, and erudite, just as you would expect from Maeda. It is also the most compelling one hundred pages of design writing I have read this year." Rob Forbes, Founder, Design Within Reach

"Our lives and our businesses are faster and broader than ever. As such, they are also more complex and difficult to manage, for both customers and managers. Therefore, achieving simplicity in both our products and our organizations will be crucial for securing market share. No one has seen this more clearly than John Maeda, the Master of Simplicity. The Laws of Simplicity is a clear and incisive guide for making simplicity the paramount feature of our products; it's also a road map for constructing a more meaningful world." Andrea Ragnetti, Board of Management, Royal Philips Electronics

"I planned to skim/sample John Maeda's book, then decide to endorse it or not. I quickly found myself mesmerized and thence the only issue was deciding what were the strongest words I could muster in support of The Laws of Simplicity. The book is important; and Maeda has made an absurdly complex subject simplicity approachable and usable. Bravo! I hope the people who design the products I'll acquire in the next ten years take this book to heart." Tom Peters

Author Bio

John Maeda is an award-winning graphic designer and educator who has become a passionate spokesperson for the current move toward simplicity in the high-technology business world. He believes designers should be leading the movement toward simplicity. Named as one of the "75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century" by Esquire, Maeda draws on his diverse background as an MIT-trained engineer, award-winning designer, and MBA-community translator to bring people and ideas together at scale. (updated using his linkedin copy)