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Image courtesy of jeffk (flickr); permission being requested.

There's a big difference between simplicity and simplistic. Simplicity is good: it's important and according to da Vinci it's, "the ultimate sophistication." Simplistic is bad, shallow, and lazy.

When someone throws out a K.I.S.S. (as in: Keep it Simple, Stupid) do they mean that you've got to work harder to make something less complicated, more uncluttered, and more useful for others? Or do they mean that you can get away without much effort or attention to detail, making it easier for them? It's important that you don't fall into the trap of using the pursuit of simple to be an excuse for dumbing things down.

Garr Reynolds explores the question of simplicity in this post which includes a link to a speech he gave on the topic at a recent Synergy Conference. One quote buried deep in the speech, from Dr. Koichi Kawana, sums up the good type of simplicity:

"Simplicity means the achievement of maximum effect with minimum means."

From Brand Mix