Achieving Simplicity Beyond Complexity in Design
Taking the complex and developing a system that appears simple, without reducing the core functionality of the site.
1. Complexity Working Towards Simplicity: Amazon
Amazon is notorious for the complexity of its website. It’s full-width and crammed with images, products, cards, and confusing grid layouts. With one of the up and coming design teams in the technology industry, Amazon is focused on making their site easier to use, and simplifying the experience for the end user. As it stands, there are notable issues not just around the design, but around the functionality too. Delivery costs are one of these components that need to be made more clear and consistent to users. On a design front, there is simply so much going on from a visual standpoint that it can seem overwhelming.
2. Simplicity Beyond Complexity: Google Services
Google has successfully migrated most of its core product line to achieve simplicity beyond complexity. It’s employed a consistent design system across products in the form of Material Design. This has achieved consistency and ease of use across products, websites, and apps.

Finding Design Solutions
As designers work on products, it’s important to always seek the solution beyond complexity. Attempt not to apply reductionist techniques where the functionality is beneficial to the end user. It’s often more difficult to find these solutions and implement them, but continuing to do so as a design direction will equate to a better, more expansive, and more capable product over time.Read Next
3 Essential Design Trends, December 2023
While we love the holidays, too much of a seasonal theme can get overwhelming. Thankfully, these design trends strike a…
10 Easy Ways to Make Money as a Web Designer
When you’re a web designer, the logical way to make money is designing websites; you can apply for a job at an agency,…
By Louise North
The 10 Most Hated Fonts of All Time
Remember when Comic Sans wasn’t the butt of the jokes? Long for the days when we actually enjoyed using the Impact…
15 Best New Fonts, November 2023
2023 is almost over, and the new fonts are still coming thick and fast. This month, we’ve found some awesome variable…
By Ben Moss
Old School Web Techniques Best Forgotten
When the web first entered the public consciousness back in the 90s, it was primarily text-based with minimal design…
By Simon Sterne
20 Best New Websites, November 2023
As the nights draw in for the Northern hemisphere, what better way to brighten your day than by soaking up some design…
30 Amazing Chrome Extensions for Designers and Developers
Searching for a tool to make cross-platform design a breeze? Desperate for an extension that helps you figure out the…
By Robert Reeve
Exciting New Tools for Designers, November 2023
We’ve got a mix of handy image helpers, useful design assets, and clever productivity tools, amongst other treats. Some…
The Dangers of Doomscrolling for Designers and How to Break Free
As a creative professional, navigating the digital realm is second nature to you. It’s normal to follow an endless…
By Louise North
From Image Adjustments to AI: Photoshop Through the Years
Remember when Merriam-Webster added Photoshop to the dictionary back in 2008? Want to learn how AI is changing design…
By Max Walton
3 Essential Design Trends, November 2023
In the season of giving thanks, we often think of comfort and tradition. These are common themes with each of our three…
30 Obsolete Technologies that will Perplex Post-2000s Kids
Remember the screech of dial-up internet? Hold fond memories of arcade machines? In this list, we’re condensing down 30…