Philosophy

sim⋅plic⋅i⋅ty (n)

1. ease: freedom from difficulty or hardship or effort
2. Freedom from complexity, intricacy, or division into parts: an organism of great simplicity.
3. absence of pretentiousness, ornament, etc.; plainness: a life of simplicity.
4. freedom from deceit or guile; sincerity; artlessness; naturalness: a simplicity of manner.

Life was never meant to be so hard, and yet, somehow human beings  scampered down the path of doing just that. In this fast paced world of drive-by advertising, 24 hour news channels, iPhones and Twittering, I found I had no time to appreciate anything: go go go!

I first noticed the problem in my professional life. As a Merchant of Cool on the InterWeb, I had encountered so much chaos that I began to embrace simplicity in design, Apple computer being the more mainstream of purveyors. I found an extreme appreciation in austerity in design and availability: links, pictures, design elements, what-have-you.

As it was, web users are so finicky that they will leave your site within 5-10 seconds if they cannot find what they need. As a web designer, why would you want web navigation difficult and complex?

And how about in the real world?

As the years went on, I slowly recognized the loss of subtle pleasures in life: a full moon on a snow-covered landscape, the peace after an engaging Anusara yoga session, a finely crafted Mojito…. mmmm.

I didn’t want to give those beautiful things up. And so it was, the birth of my philosophy.

Simplicity: the principle permeates my whole life. My designs and my choices are based around how to get from point A to point B as easily and effectively. Applying the 80/20 rule I learned from Tim Ferris’s book, The 4 Hour Workweek (highly recommended), I began to minimize what I own and how I travel, unnecessary clothing, books, CDs (the iPod is a beautiful thing). I subscribe to the principle; ‘the more stuff you own, the more the stuff owns you.’

My web work has become simple in design. Elegant and easy to use still abound, but convolution is not part of the equation.

When things get complicated, they also get confusing. so choose to follow the rules of universal law life, work and everything in between. If it’s easy and it feels right, why fight it?

The entire process has been liberating, to say the least. I find things in life much more gratifying, as I can smell the roses. If you have the opportunity to take the path of least resistance, take it. It is so choice.

Namaste,

Gabriel Krechmer
May 2009