As our world gets more complex, discussions about simplicity grow. Yet, ironically the issue of simplicity itself — what it is, how we attain it, etc. — is not at all simple. Or perhaps we should say it is not at all easy. Simplicity means many different things to many different people, and it seems difficult to ever get people to agree exactly what it is. Simplicity is elusive and words are often inadequate to illuminate its essence, yet most rational people agree that simplicity (how ever you define it) is a worthy goal so long as "it is not too simple." Like you, I'm very interested in simplicity. Yet, I still have little idea what exactly simplicity is. All I know is that it's something we — designers, educators, engineers, business people — need to spend more time studying, thinking about, and discussing. The problem today is not just that complex issues are made too simple, but rather that simple things are made unnecessarily complicated with layers of obfuscation and the superfluous. We're not there yet, but clarity and simplicity are the goal.
Las Vegas: an odd place to talk about simplicity?
A few weeks ago, I opened for the Synergy Conference at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Below is a recording of that 43-minute keynote presentation. There were about 3000 people or so in the audience. It was 8:30 am and part of my goal was really to get the crowd warmed up and ready for the presentations that followed, including the presentation by one of my business heroes Citrix CEO Mark Templeton.
I'm not sure what simplicity is yet, but I know that it's not easy to obtain and it's not something to be confused with simplistic (or "dumbed down" or "too simple" etc.). I think "simplistic" and "simplicity" are different things and come from a different place, a different approach. This is what I was trying to say at least with this crude visual below.
A couple of more slides:
Behind the scenes
If you ever wondered what it's like on stage the day before a large conference like this, you may enjoy this amateur video taken at rehearsal the day before. (Just two days before this same arena was the site of the Pacquiao v. Hatton boxing match.) I originally posted this video right after the event in May.
Links
• Wabi-Sabi: for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers by Leonard Koren
• The Laws of Simplicity by John Maeda
• Fast Company article on simplicity
• Nancy Duarte's blog post about this talk
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Posted by: Sandy Peterson | June 23, 2009 at 09:15 PM
Great presentation, Garr! I'll be watching that one again.
I used the beginner's mind in a presentation I did as board president of a disability organization. I did so to emphasize "possibility". Along with a simple graphic of a child and his dad floating a toy sailboat in the water, the beginners mind halped scope out the organizational mission. I also tried to use pictures to explain independent living. It was fun, and got the point across.
Posted by: Michael Sporer | June 23, 2009 at 10:57 PM
That was a great presentation Garr. Thanks for the inspiration
Posted by: Carl Pullein | June 24, 2009 at 12:14 AM
Garr, a question, how do you stay connected to 6,000 eyes?
Posted by: Jan Schultink | June 24, 2009 at 03:37 AM
I was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to attend this terrific presentation.
It was the highlight of the week.
Thanks for posting this so that I can watch it again and share it so that others will be able to see why I talked about it so positively.
Posted by: Don McEwan | June 24, 2009 at 06:29 AM
Absolutely - simple and simplistic are not the same thing at all. My dictionary defines simplistic as 'treating complex issues and problems as simpler than they are' - in other words, it's no compliment. It always amuses me to see designers and manufacturers advertise a product as 'simplistic' - why would you buy it?!
Posted by: Catherine | June 24, 2009 at 06:30 AM
Reminds me of Identity 2.0 at the beginning. I'm a fan of that style, too.
Posted by: Jill Cadarette | June 24, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Awesome!!
Thanks for sharing this along with those videos.Really enjoyed it.
Posted by: Business consultants | June 24, 2009 at 05:29 PM
Thank you for a great post.
Simple and simplistic are as different as complex and complicated. Whilst simplistic and complicated tend to eradicate value, both, simple and complex carry growth in them.
In my book 'Leadershift - reinventing leadership for the age of mass collaboration' I point to research from Philips highlighting the need for simplicity in our lives.
In it, I define simplicity as simplification + coherence. Simplification represents the idea of less (the image of Steve jobs pointing to the difference between a typical remote and the apple remote springs to mind) but alone runs the risk of reduction as you rightly outline. This is why the idea of coherence is so important. Simplicity must carry an emotional logic.
Thanks again for given us so many insights.
Posted by: Emmanuel | June 24, 2009 at 07:04 PM
Garr,
This is a wonderful presentation, Thank you for sharing the same with all of us. You keep inspiring me all the time. As in your other talks, visuals used are to the point. Delivery is great and most I like is involvement of participants.
Around nine minutes in to the talk, I noticed this famous Chinese character “crisis” being referred. After reading essay -http://www.pinyin.info/chinese/crisis.html from Prof. Victor H. Mair at least I don’t want to refer to “crisis” = “danger” + “opportunity”, what is your view on this? Also does same explanation in this essay apply to Japanese character you have used in your presentation?
Thanks,
Milind
Posted by: Milind Paranjape | June 24, 2009 at 09:25 PM
great presentation, I would love if the people who make technical documents (or write the ISO standards)could see this one.
Posted by: andres | June 25, 2009 at 01:46 AM
I'm a little curious about your exercise where you had people draw someone that was sitting next to/near them. I was watching this from my home office, so I didn't have anyone around to draw, so I made the square the head of the figure that I drew.
One thought I had while thinking a bit about this is that having the shape on the page helps people "frame" their drawing which might make it easier for someone to participate since they can limit the area of drawing. I wonder, was there a specific purpose you had for asking folks to draw a square/rectangle on the piece of paper prior to making the drawing add to the exercise?
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Posted by: Night Clubs | June 25, 2009 at 11:18 PM
I love the simple vs. simplicity slide. It summarizes what your approach stands for. It's brilliant!
Can't wait for your next book!
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Garr, brilliant presentation. I there any chance you repeat this presentation at our company for our employees? If that's the case let's email. Thanks!
Posted by: Sebastian Werner | June 28, 2009 at 01:36 AM
Garr,
You have probably already seen this TED video, but I thought it was a good idea to share it: http://www.ted.com/talks/david_pogue_says_simplicity_sells.html
Congratulations for your great presentation and delivery!
Posted by: Carlos Eduardo Giachetti | June 28, 2009 at 03:45 AM
I always wanted to be simple, but your simplistic vs. simplicity slide is going to make me think twice from now on
Posted by: Web Hosting Reviews | July 17, 2009 at 12:00 AM
830am presentation in Vegas is tough work! Can't believe you got 3k there so early, perhaps they never went to sleep!
Thanks for all the info, I very much appreciate it!
Posted by: Mark | July 17, 2009 at 02:35 AM
Hello Garr,
I am interested to know about the best tool to creat slides, usually I use Powerpoint, but, is this the best tool to do presentations?
Thanks for all, and for your inspiration.
Posted by: Rubén | July 22, 2009 at 01:12 AM
i want to say thanks because it is such a nice blog can u give some excellent idea's about successful blogs.
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Daniel
Posted by: sapience | July 22, 2009 at 05:22 PM
The slide 'Simplistic vs Simplicity' is great.
Though my favorite words which go with Simplicity are:
Empathy and Love
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Posted by: Kevin Neadley | August 19, 2009 at 07:05 AM
Thanks for the post.
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Simple and simplistic are as different as complex and complicated. Whilst simplistic and complicated tend to eradicate value, both, simple and complex carry growth in them.
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I always wanted to be simple, but your simplistic vs. simplicity slide is going to make me think twice from now on
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Posted by: sewa mobil | June 09, 2010 at 06:26 PM
Yes of course,simplistic and simplicity are two different things.I think simplistic as 'treating complex issues and problems as simpler than they are' and simplicity which is totally different from it.
Posted by: J hass Group | June 17, 2010 at 06:31 PM
Great article.Simple and simplistic are as different as complex and complicated. Whilst simplistic and complicated tend to eradicate value, both, simple and complex carry growth in them.
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Simple and Simplistic are not the same thing at all. My dictionary defines simplistic as 'treating complex issues and problems as simpler than they are' - in other words, it's no compliment.
Posted by: healthy chocolate | August 03, 2010 at 06:41 PM
I was the first time, to see what everyone says, what can be shared
Posted by: emu boots | August 30, 2010 at 12:22 PM
Thanks for posting this so that I can watch it again and share it so that others will be able to see why I talked about it so positively.
Posted by: jump higher | September 13, 2010 at 08:08 PM
what i understand with simplicity is that you won't have to take trouble while doing any task and where there is lots of hurdles and red tapism thats prevent simplicity
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Definition of Sophisticated: Having acquired worldly knowledge or refinement; lacking natural simplicity or naiveté. Definition of Diva: one who behaves as a goddess or queen. We are dedicated to empowering each other and our community. Empowerment is the process of increasing the capacity of individuals or groups to make choices and to transform those choices into desired actions and outcomes.
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