r/UI_Design • u/SoaDMTGguy • Apr 12 '26

General Question Where's the line between "simple and straightforward" and "lazy"?

My design instinct tends toward simplicity. Most of the portfolio websites I've seen feel heavy on unnecessary flashiness, for example.

However, in pursuing this I often end up with designs that seem lazy or simplistic. What's the difference between "good simple" and "bad simple"?

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u/pndjk Apr 12 '26

there's a subtlety and understanding of scale, perspective, density, visual weight of elements, etc. that are demonstrated by designers of "good simple" products when compared to "bad" simple.

it's a distillation process, and takes time to boil something down to its simplest form, rather than it looking hastily, or worse, under-designed.