Simplicity vs. Usability: Lessons from Don Norman

Recently, I stumbled upon a great interview by Felix Lee, Co-founder and CEO of ADPList.

Felix sat down with the legendary Don Norman discussing 21st century design, evolution of design and problems within this industry. (Thanks, Felix, for the eye-opening interview with the expert!) 👏

Amongst many other points raised during the interview, Don Norman—known for being the father of UX—talked about the balance between simplicity and usability.

He explained that “sleek and simple” doesn’t always mean intuitive.

👉 Norman pointed out that if users struggle to figure out how to use a product, it doesn’t matter how simple it looks—it’s not usable.

This got me thinking about the common trap we, as UX designers, fall into.

We often equate simplicity with fewer steps, hiding icons, or reducing everything to a bare-bones interface. We strip things down, thinking that less is always better. Fewer buttons, fewer options, fewer distractions—right?

But here’s the thing: simplicity isn’t just about removing elements.

It’s about making things easier to use.

When we focus too much on visual simplicity, we can end up sacrificing usability.

A design might look clean, but if users have to pause and figure out where to go next, what to click, or how to navigate, we’ve missed the point.

Simplicity in UX isn’t about how few things are on the screen—it’s about reducing the effort required to use the product.

As highlighted by Norman, if you can’t immediately figure out how to use a product, what’s the point?

“You can’t give a medal for a good design just because it looks good[…]. It has to work well for people.” (Don Norman)

The real art of simplicity in UX isn’t minimalism for the sake of minimalism.

It’s about reducing cognitive load without sacrificing clarity or usability.

I personally see Google as a perfect example of minimalism that hides a lot of complexity underneath.

Their products look sleek and smooth, which is great for aesthetics.

But what I love is that they’re also super easy to use.

Even with all the powerful features running in the background, everything feels intuitive.

As designers, this is our goal: to create products that are clean and easy to use, even if there are layers of complexity behind the scenes.

We also want to deliver a smooth experience without stripping away the essential parts of user interaction.

But let’s be real—this is a skill and not an easy one either. It takes practice and thoughtfulness to strike that balance.

After all, consumers should feel like they just “get it” when using a product—without having to think too hard.

So how do we strike that balance between simplicity and functionality?

Tips 🌟

1️⃣ Don’t Confuse Minimalism with Clarity

The first instinct might be to remove elements to make a design “clean.”

But always ask: is this going to confuse the user?

Minimal doesn’t mean empty. Every element should have a clear purpose.

If removing something compromises that purpose, it’s worth rethinking.

2️⃣ Stick to What Users Already Know

We might be tempted to reinvent the wheel. But when users see something familiar, like a standard navigation bar or recognisable icons, they don’t have to think twice.

The goal is to reduce friction by building on what users already know.

It makes the experience smooth and intuitive.

3️⃣ Make Important Stuff Easy to Find

Hiding essential features to keep things “clean” might sound like a good idea, but it’s a fast track to frustrating your users.

If something is key to their journey, it needs to be front and centre. Don’t make them dig for it. The goal is to reduce the user’s effort, not increase it by making them search for features they’ll use all the time.

4️⃣ Only Show What’s Needed, When It’s Needed

Not all interactions need to be immediate or available upfront. Contextual design helps users focus on the task at hand by only showing what’s relevant in the moment.

This doesn’t mean hiding options entirely—just revealing them when they make sense. When you deliver information at the right time, you avoid overwhelming users and help them stay focused.

5️⃣ Don’t Rely Solely on Gestures

Gestures can serve as a great way to design more intuitive interfaces but relying on them too heavily can be risky, especially for novice users.

If someone doesn’t know how to swipe or tap in just the right way, they’re left feeling frustrated.

Always provide visual cues or alternative ways to perform actions, so users aren’t left guessing.

6️⃣ Let Users Guide You

Watching real people use your design will show you what’s working and what’s not.

If they struggle with something that seems obvious to you, it’s time to go back to the drawing board.

Let their feedback shape the experience.

7️⃣ Reduce Cognitive Load, Not Steps

Sometimes, reducing steps in a flow can actually complicate things. If it takes extra thinking or forces users to make tough decisions, it’s counterproductive.

For example, in financial apps, you often can’t reduce the number of steps, especially when certain questions or verifications are necessary for security reasons.

In these cases, it’s not about cutting steps—it’s about breaking them down into smaller, more manageable, and intuitive steps.

Users will feel less overwhelmed, and the process becomes easier to navigate.

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As UX professionals, we need to remember that simplicity isn’t just about reducing what’s on the screen.

It’s about making the entire experience feel natural and easy to use.

Stripping a design down for the sake of minimalism might look clean, but if it confuses users, we’ve missed the point.

The real challenge is to make things work simply, not just look simple.

Our job is to reduce friction—to make the user’s journey feel smooth. But we have to be careful not to prioritise aesthetics over usability. A design can be visually stunning, but if users can’t figure out how to interact with it, it’s not really doing its job.

At the end of the day, simplicity is about balance.

It’s not about taking away as much as possible, but about giving just enough to make the product easy to use without overcomplicating it.

When users don’t have to think too hard and things just “click,” that’s when you know you’ve accomplished a well-designed experience.

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