In his 2006 book The Laws of Simplicity, John Maeda poses the ten principles of simplicity:
1. Reduce
The simplest way to achieve simplicity is through thoughtful reduction.
2. Organize
Organization makes a system of many appear fewer.
3. Time
Savings in time feel like simplicity.
4. Learn
Knowledge makes everything simpler.
5. Differences
Simplicity and complexity need each other.
6. Context
What lies in the periphery of simplicity is definitely not peripheral.
7. Emotion
More emotions are better than less.
8. Trust
In simplicity we trust.
9. Failure
Some things can never be made simple.
10. The One
Simplicity is about subtracting the
obvious, and adding the meaningful.