MIT Professor's 'Laws of Simplicity' remains the rulebook for Apple and Google designers
thisguyknowsai · x · 2026-08-21
MIT professor John Maeda's 2006 book, The Laws of Simplicity, has been translated into 14 languages and serves as a foundational rulebook for designers at Apple, Google, and Airbnb.
The book outlines the SHE method for achieving simplicity:
- Shrink: Use visual tricks to make a product feel smaller and lighter (e.g., the iPod's mirrored back).
- Hide: Bury non-removable complexity deep within the interface (e.g., nested settings menus).
- Embody: Restore perceived value through materials, weight, and craftsmanship (e.g., adding weight to a remote to signal quality).
Maeda argues that simplicity is not a bolted-on feature but a consequence of defending fewer things more fiercely than competitors defend more.
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