Laws / Choices
Tesler's law
Conservation of complexity
Every system has some complexity that can't be removed. The only question is whether the product handles it or the person does.
Why it matters
Simplifying the interface by pushing work onto people isn't simplifying. Good products absorb the complexity themselves.
Rules to follow
- Infer what you can: derive city and state from a ZIP code, card type from the card number, time zone from the browser.
- Use smart defaults and remember previous answers.
- Use autocomplete attributes on every form field so browsers can fill them.
- Don't hide necessary complexity so far that experts can't reach it.