Laws / Choices
Occam's razor
Among solutions that work equally well, pick the one with the fewest assumptions and parts.
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Why it matters
Every element on a screen has to be read, understood and ignored if it isn't needed. Fewer parts means less to get wrong.
Rules to follow
- Remove any element that doesn't help the person finish their task; if removing it changes nothing, leave it out.
- Prefer one clear control over several overlapping ones.
- Don't add settings for decisions the product can make well on its own.
- Default to the simplest layout that holds the content; add structure only when content demands it.