Whether it is a website design, a graphic, or a video simplicity is necessary. Simplicity has a tendency to succeed in every area that it is used.
As technology advanced over the years, everything tended to become more complicated and complex until an age of creativity and simplicity took over. When this happened, things that were previously complicated and ugly became simple and beautiful.
And I’ve been recently mulling over in my head examples of simplicity and how it can help make what we do more effective.
One example of technology and design becoming more simple is Apple’s Logo:
Logos:
Apple’s original logo began simple although it had a rainbow color scheme on the apple. The apple became much more simple with its change to a solid black color.
Also, when I think of simple, I think of Google.
Google has revolutionized the search engine and the email account. I used to have a yahoo and an AOL email address until gmail came around. It was like a breath of fresh air. Google as a search engine couldn’t be any more simple and effective.
Applications:
Another great example of simplicity in design is in John Saddington‘s Standard Theme WordPress Theme.
The Standard Theme is incredibly good looking because of its simplicity and lack of excess “stuff” that a ton of websites add just cause they can.
This theme has the bare essentials plus some although they are all designed with a focused and simple color scheme and style. Everything that this theme incorporates is clean and simple.
In my experience with churches and design, the content that is less complex and more focused is more effective. Along with the media side of sermons, the body of the actual sermon needs to be simple and focused.
Sermons and Media:
One of my new favorite sermon series has to be the White Flag Series by Andy Stanley. The sermon is very simple and powerful. He goes straight to the point and focuses on a few main things. The Title Package that accompanies this series is very well made and it is simple.
The sermon and video are simple and can be described in a few sentences:
The series is about Jonah and how he ran from God. We wanted to show a character running endlessly and becoming more and more exhausted. Additionally, the subject was to end up in increasingly desolate environments.
The reveal at the end would show a white flag. We wanted the viewer to see the subject running, becoming beat down by the run and eventually surrendering.
Sermons and the media associated with them should be very focused and simple so that the church can take away a few important things that they will remember rather than too many off topic points. As old and standard as a three point sermon is, it is effective and simple.
Simplicity can be used in so many other areas than just these three.
What are some things you think of when you think of “simple”? Are there ways in which you could make things more simple in the way you do everyday things in ministry?
Tom says
Good thoughts, dude.
Simplicity is one of those things that it seems like developers and designers strive for in their products as of late – I’ve been trying to bring it into the real world a bit.
And yes, White Flag was an awesome series. Personally, I think the series got better with each message.
Travis Fish says
Thanks man! Appreciate the response. Yeah that series rocked.
Graham says
It seems like I’m always remembering to KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) in everything that I do these days. When I think of “simple” I of course also immediately think of Google. However, the types of things I find even more fascinating are the complex things in life that are based off of some of the most simple rules.
Take airplanes for example. We all know airplanes to be complex engineering marvels that have miles of cable, tons of metal and intricate computer systems… yet they can be taken out by some guy who left his cell phone on. Just kidding… what I mean is that they are super complex. And yet their basic strategy to constantly engage in a tug of war between the opposing forces of lift versus weight and thrust versus drag. Fairly basic physics principles when you look at them alone.
Travis Fish says
I totally agree. Simplicity in complexity. Great thoughts.
Nick Shoemaker says
YES! Love the KISS principle.
PhillipGibb says
I couldn’t agree more.
Simplicity in a way that credits the intelligence of the consumer.
Throwing too much information out at them is like saying, “you’re too dumb to figure it out”
Simplifying it is saying, “we think you are clever, so here is the info in a simplified manner but we’ll let you delve deeper”
Travis Fish says
I love that. I’m glad so many companies are beginning to think i’m clever. 🙂
Calum Henderson says
Definitely agree that simplicity is where everything is headed. Just look at the iPhone or iPad. Just a big screen with one button at the bottom.
Travis Fish says
Great example. Could it get any more simple than that?
Nick Shoemaker says
no button at the bottom?
Travis Fish says
haha 😮
Jesse J. Anderson says
This is definitely a trend that I’ve noticed happening in the world of web design as well.
I recently redesigned my site http://echofaith.com and it was, by far, the most simple design I’ve had for the site. This has been a recent trend of many designers’ websites (two other examples – http://snook.ca & http://seansperte.com).
I think as the web has matured some of us just became overwhelmed with what was once a simple idea (an online journal) that suddenly became overloaded with so many “features” that it began to get in the way of the original purposes of the site.
Travis Fish says
I love your site’s design! Simple is awesome. 😮
greenhornet79 says
I just finished reading the book “Make It Stick”. It talks about how to make your ideas stick in people’s minds and the first point they mentioned was simplicity. Find the core of your message and base everything else off of it.
Really find out exactly what you are trying to communicate in a video or graphic and don’t go too broad with your message.
Travis Fish says
I’ll have to check that book out. Exactly. Stay Simple. Thanks for the response! 🙂
kylereed says
For me, the thing about simplicity that bothers me is that sometimes because it is so simple it doesn’t seem right. Like it should be harder to do this or it should be more dressed up then what it is. Often times the dressing up part takes away from what you are either creating or talking about.
I know when I worked at a church I remember getting stuff done pretty quickly and simply but then feeling guilty that it didn’t take me that long so I figured out ways to make it fancy and in turn I think I lost some effectiveness.
Simple helps things be way more clear. I am still learning this.
Travis Fish says
I’ve felt that way before. I’m still learning it too.
Nick Shoemaker says
This is really good.
After I write this post, I noticed that Simple was stalking me. Everywhere I turned, wether it was meeting with a client or in my own personal work, simple was staring me down like an eight grade bully- albeit one that I am running towards, not from.
brett barner says
I love simplicity.
kylan says
I think simplicity is key when it comes to a ministry budget. If we constantly strive to cut out unnecessary spending, there will be more financial resources to apply to important causes. It’s sad to see that we stuff our faces with church-bought doughnuts every Sunday, while fellow Christians in the Third World are dying of hunger. This might be an extreme example, and I certainly would argue for a degree of moderation here. My point, though, is that we need to do our best to be good stewards of God’s money.
Mahmoud Saleh says
i want explain for me the title (simplicity in ophthalmic diagnosis )