INDUSTRIAL DESIGN: good UI is not about fewer buttons

A simple interface is not always the one with the least on the screen. It is the one that asks the user to learn the least before they get value.

The telegraph was a powerful new tool when it was introduced, but people had to learn Morse code to use it. The telephone however took off in a bigger way because no one had to learn a new system, you could just talk. So the interface matched a behavior they already understood.

Users do not want to translate their intent into your system’s language. They want the product to understand the language they already use.

This is true for apps, physical controls, setup flows, dashboards, and connected devices. Every label, button, screen, gesture, and confirmation either reduces translation cost or adds to it.

Good UI design makes the product’s logic feel closer to the user’s logic, so the value shows up before the frustration does.