How to avoid complexity in product interface?

How to avoid complexity in product interface?

The reason why we add complexity is that we haven't figured out the right mental model. Here are 7 things you can do to make your product simpler

  • Ruthlessly de-prioritize unimportant things. We tend to give undue importance to the new features we're building.  Thing ten times before adding steps to your core user flows.
  • Set reasonable defaults for infrequent actions instead of asking the user for input.
  • Remember what the user did. Persist the interface state as much as possible.
  • Reduce visual noise. Replace borders and shadows with white spaces. Minimize the number of styles, colors, fonts you use. Highlight only the most important thing.
  • Use standard interactions, with a few tweaks if necessary. Custom components increase perceived complexity.
  • Use the language of your user instead of inventing new terms.
  • This is an unpopular one - Get rid of in-product onboarding. Make the interface obvious instead of trying to teach people how to operate the complex interface.