Four strategies for simplifying user interfaces
Simplicity is often a paramount goal for designers of interfaces, products, and experiences, guiding them in crafting interfaces that are intuitive, efficient, and accessible. Often, this goal conflicts with other goals, such as creating more features to expand functionality and/or drive user engagement or competing in the attention economy to drive company profits. More often, the question arises, how do you simplify something that is complex? Let us start with a simple definition.
Simplicity, a concept cherished across various knowledge domains, is often lauded for its elegance and depth. Philosophers and inventors worldwide have underscored its significance, each bringing a unique perspective to its understanding. Lao Tzu, the ancient Chinese philosopher, highlighted the strength of simplicity through Taoism, advocating for a life of minimalism and inner peace. In the Western tradition, Henry David Thoreau, in his seminal work “Walden,” espoused simplicity as a means to closer communion with nature and the essence of life. Similarly, Leonardo da Vinci, the quintessential Renaissance inventor and artist, famously stated that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” emphasizing the power and beauty inherent in the unadorned and straightforward. Though from diverse cultures and eras, these perspectives converge on the idea that simplicity transcends complexity, offering a clearer path to truth and understanding. So, let us define simplicity as the quality or condition of being easy to understand or do, characterized by clarity, minimalism, and the absence of unnecessary components.
Simplicity in UX and Interaction Design is crucial because it enhances user engagement by reducing cognitive load, making digital products more intuitive and accessible. Great user experience design offers users a clearer path to truth and understanding. By streamlining design elements and focusing on core functionalities, designers can ensure a seamless and efficient user experience, resulting in higher user satisfaction and retention rates.
But simplifying user interfaces and interactions is anything but simple. Giles Colborne’s influential work, “Simple and Usable,” delves into the essence of achieving simplicity in UX design through four fundamental strategies: organize, remove, hide, and displace. These strategies serve as an instrumental framework for designers aiming to enhance user interaction by offering a structured and empirical approach to minimizing complexity and focusing on the user’s core needs.
While Colburne emphasizes that you can use these strategies in any sequence, a particular order seems more logical. That ordering begins with removing unnecessary elements and focusing on the core functionality and experience. Second, elements that aren’t immediately needed should be displaced at other interfaces or touchpoints. Third, elements that are only required contextually should be hidden. Lastly, the remaining elements should be organized into logical (usually task-based) groupings.
Colburne used the ubiquitous television remote control as an example, a device, and interface that has not only persisted through many technological changes in televisions but has also maintained persistently bad designs. I will also use a TV remote as an example, but I will use an updated version (made by Louis Herero and which I modified) for so-called Smart TVs.
Remove
The Remove strategy advocates eliminating unnecessary elements that do not directly contribute to the core functionality or user goals. This minimalist approach is grounded in the principle that less is usually more in design. By removing clutter, such as irrelevant features, excessive options, or decorative yet non-functional elements, designers can direct the user’s attention to the most critical aspects of the interface. This focus simplifies the user’s decision-making process and enhances the overall effectiveness and satisfaction derived from using the product. While unnecessary decorative elements should minimized or removed, we must remember that aesthetics plays a crucial role in usability and user experience. In our example of TV remotes, all extraneous features and affordances have been removed. What is left is the power button, a rocker switch and “ok” button for navigating on-screen menus, and basic volume controls. The “ok” button doubles as a play/pause affordance.
Displace
The Displace strategy refers to moving interface elements, complex tasks, or information out of the main interface and into a different context where they can be managed more effectively. This could involve transferring detailed settings to a separate configuration screen, using external documentation for complex instructions, or employing tutorials to guide users through intricate processes. Displacement allows the core interface to remain simple and focused on primary interactions while providing users with the tools and information needed to accomplish advanced tasks. In our example of TV remotes, some basic power, navigation, playback, and volume affordances have been preserved. The buttons for streaming channels and other tertiary controls have been displaced or moved to the screen-based menus.
Hide
The Hide strategy acknowledges that while certain features and information are necessary for a product’s functionality, they only need to be immediately visible some of the time. By hiding secondary options or less frequently used features, designers can maintain a clean and uncluttered interface, reducing the initial learning curve and minimizing distractions. These elements can be made accessible through progressive disclosure techniques, such as menus, tabs, accordion menus, or “more” buttons, ensuring that users can access them as needed without overwhelming the primary interface. In our example of TV remotes, it is determined that the streaming channel buttons are only occasionally required, so they are hidden behind a sliding panel.
Organize
The Organize strategy emphasizes the importance of structuring information and interface elements to align with the user’s expectations and cognitive patterns. By categorizing related functions and data into logical groups, designers can reduce cognitive load, making it easier for users to process information and navigate the interface. This organization can be achieved through applying Gestalt Theory to visual layouts, clear labels, consistent layout patterns, and intuitive navigation schemes. When users find the interface predictable, they can rely on their existing knowledge to interact with the system, enhancing usability and efficiency. In our example of TV remotes, affordances are grouped and placed by importance and task: the power button is at the extreme top; the rocker-switch and ok button are combined into a single affordance cluster; volume controls are moved up to a more prominent location; playback controls are clustered lower on the interface; the smart TV channels are hidden at the bottom behind a sliding panel; other tertiary affordances are removed or displaced to the on-screen menus.
Achieving simplicity does not guarantee better usability. It requires many iterations and diligent usability testing to find the right balance. The four strategies of simplification outlined by Giles Colborne in “Simple and Usable” offer a valuable framework for UX and Interaction designers striving to create more intuitive and engaging interfaces. By thoughtfully removing unnecessary elements, displacing complex or secondary tasks, hiding contextual features, and organizing information around user tasks, designers can significantly enhance the user experience. These strategies not only aid in achieving a balance between functionality and simplicity but also in meeting users’ diverse needs and preferences, ultimately leading to more inclusive, effective, and delightful products and experiences.
