‘Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication’ – Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci’s famous phrase about simplicity is still the best way to explain what is this concept about.
Simplicity implies maximum sophistication, beauty, clarity, freshness and transparency.
It seems unnecessary to say we are living very complex times in which the simple act of living has become an overwhelming experience. We have many more things to be accomplished, done and of course, less time. In this context, we are immediately attracted to products and/or services that make our life SIMPLER. Therefore, we could say that simplicity is about focusing on things that are most important and disregarding or avoiding things that are not.
As consumers we try to avoid things which are not simple to understand, operate, or use. We hate wordy, lengthy descriptions and small print. We get confused and undecided with an overwhelming number of choices. Therefore, we love, desire and embrace:
- Simplicity in speech
- Simple design (graphic, architectural, industrial)
- Simplicity in clothing
- Simplicity in packaging
- Simplicity in retail spaces
- SIMPLE people, meaning transparent, beautiful, uncomplicated
Want to start simplifying your business?
See how others applied SIMPLICITY and get inspired.
ING Direct
In a highly complex and competitive financial world, ING Direct started offering easy banking and simple rules to clients. ING Direct’s focus is on offering five simple and transparent retail banking products at very low cost: savings, mortgages, payment accounts, investment products and consumer lending. No fees, ifs, ands or buts.
The Emperor Hotel
Simplicity started being applied as a synonym of minimalism in interior design. The Hotel industry incorporated by creating a whole new concept of small and luxurious boutique hotels in lieu of impersonal giants. The Emperor is cool, boutique hotel in the middle of crazy Beijing, China which has only 55 rooms.
In the past decade, we experienced simplification in service processes (3 easy steps) at all levels. Now many businesses are SIMPLIFYING the registration process for the client by allowing them to sign up to their website by using their Facebook or Twitter accounts.
