kottke.org

...is a weblog about the liberal arts 2.0 edited by Jason Kottke since March 1998 (archives). You can read about me and kottke.org here. If you've got questions, concerns, or interesting links, send them along.

6 kottke.org posts about simplicity

 

One of the causes of feature creep

One of the causes of feature creep in products like consumer electronics is that when customers are making purchase decisions, they'll likely choose the one with the most features. "But, when they were asked to use the digital device, so-called 'feature fatigue' set in. They became frustrated with the plethora of options they had created, and ended up happier with a simpler product."

The new postal price restrictions on thickness

The new postal price restrictions on thickness and whether the envelope is "flat-machinable" or not seem like the USPS passing along internal problems to their customers, the same crappy stuff that banks and the airlines do. Keep the process simple...we don't care about your technology can and can't do. Figure it out.

By Jason Kottke    May 14, 2007    business   simplicity   USPS

CNN International redesigned their on-screen graphics. You

CNN International redesigned their on-screen graphics. You can see the definite influence of lo-fi web design here...those screens look like a web site. I'd love to see these in action.

Update: A UK firm called Kemistry did the work.

By Jason Kottke    Feb 14, 2006    cnn   design   simplicity   TV   web design

The beauty of simplicity. "Blame the [lack

The beauty of simplicity. "Blame the [lack of simplicity on the] closed feedback loop among engineers and industrial designers, who simply can't conceive of someone so lame that she can't figure out how to download a ringtone; blame a competitive landscape in which piling on new features is the easiest way to differentiate products, even if it makes them harder to use; blame marketers who haven't figured out a way to make 'ease of use' sound hip."

Apple's obsession with simplicity has gotten a

Apple's obsession with simplicity has gotten a bit out of control with the latest release of OS X.

By Jason Kottke    May 20, 2005    Apple   funny   OS X   simplicity   tiger

Mark Bittman cooks homemade food in challenging America's top chefs

Mark Bittman cooks homemade food in challenging America's top chefs. Daniel Boulud laughed at the complexity of Bittman's dish, but gave an 8/10 in taste...and it only took 10 minutes to prepare.

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