Simplicity-Led Design

Philips’ Next Simplicity was intended to be a tangible and inspirational way of communicating the brand promise for the coming three to five years. There were five themes: care, glow, play, share and trust.

Philips calls their approach simplicity-led design. They present artifacts characterized by straightforward operation, with an almost total absence of buttons and switches. Gestural interaction is a recurring theme in their environments.

The aim is honorable, but I am questioning if we really need for over-simplification and smoothen interfaces. Simplicity should not necessary mean hiding or not experiencing complexity? My claim is that it that seamless is utopic in uncontrolled environments (too many constraints) and in the same time the user want grips to keep control of technology. Humans adapt and twist. Learn and do the gestures or grab the switch?