UI fundamentals · 7 min read
Less is more (without hiding the important stuff)
Cut clutter, reduce choices, and break big tasks into small steps so brains stay calm.
Explained like for kids
Too many toys on the floor make it hard to find the one you want. Screens work the same way. “Less is more” means tidy the floor — not throw away the favorite toy.
Examples
Each example has a kid-friendly “why,” then a clear Don't and Do with a real UI mock so you can see the difference.
Fewer decisions, faster choices
Like for kids: A snack shelf with 40 cereals freezes you. A shelf with 5 good options helps you pick and eat.
Don’t
Dumping every option on one screen
Choice overload slows people down or makes them quit.
Pick a flavor
Do
Reduce choices; reveal more with “Show more”
People start simple, then dig deeper only if they care.
Pick a flavor
Steps beat giant forms
Like for kids: Cleaning your whole room in one go feels impossible. Cleaning toys, then clothes, then desk feels doable.
Don’t
One endless form with dozens of questions
Huge walls of fields raise cognitive load and drop-offs.
Survey
How often do you use our app?
Most useful feature?
Would you recommend us?
What should we improve?
Company size?
Your role?
Do
Split into short steps with clear progress
Small wins keep people moving. Each screen has one job.
Step 2 of 4
Which features did you find most useful?
Important things stay visible
Like for kids: Hiding the bathroom key to “declutter” the key hook is a bad idea. Same for primary actions.
Don’t
Minimal look that buries the main action
Pretty emptiness isn’t usable if people can’t find what matters.
Product
Walnut stand. Ergonomic angle. Free shipping.
buy
Do
Remove noise, keep the path obvious
Simplicity = easy to understand, not just fewer pixels.
Wood laptop stand
Walnut veneer · Free shipping Australia-wide
$129.00
Familiar patterns win
Like for kids: A door handle should look like a door handle. Inventing a weird new door every room would confuse guests.
Don’t
Clever custom controls for common tasks
People must relearn. Interaction cost goes up.
Quantity
Looks clever, feels unfamiliar
Do
Use common patterns; stay consistent
Familiar = fast. Consistency means less guessing.
Quantity
Remember these
- Lower cognitive load: fewer styles, fewer decisions, clearer groups.
- Progressive disclosure: show the next bit when people need it.
- Don’t confuse empty minimalism with real simplicity.
- Break long forms into steps so the mountain becomes a staircase.
Inspired by Practical UI — Fundamentals & Less is more (Adham Dannaway). Rewritten in plain language for learning — not a reprint of the originals.