Simplexity by Stuart Hollington

SI IC STUART HOLLINGTON MA in Design Communication Simplexity (BIP) Simplicity is the clarity and speed that a design communicates with its viewer. Even the most complicated

design concepts can be made simple to understand when the correct system and design research are applied.

MPL EX ITY Complexity is the system and depth of thought that has been applied to a design during the design process.

What may be seemingly simple to understand at a glance has great depth and intricacy once dissected and analysed.

CO IC Complicity is combination of complexity and simplicity, describing the correlation between the two. Simplicity

is the outcome (how well a design communicates) and complexity is the system / process behind the design.

SI MPL EX ITY Simplexity is combination of simplicity and complexity, describing the correlation between the two. Simplicity

is the outcome (how well a design communicates) and complexity is the system / process behind the design.

CON TENT SIMPEXITY THEORY 2 Simplexity Theory SIMPLEX CIRCLES 3 Simplex Circles 4 Actions and Shapes 5 Objects 6 Font (Uppercase) 7 Font (Lowercase) 8 Number 9 Time COMPLEXITY GRID 10 Complexity Grid 11 Complexity Grid Data 12 Complexity Grid Results SIMPLEX FOLDS 13 Simplex Folds 14 Fold Poster 1 15 Fold Poster 2 16 Fold Poster 3 CONCLUSION 17 Conclusion

SIMPLEXITY Simplexity, a word created by combining the words simplicity and complexity. Simplexity is the correlation between simplicity and complexity, meaning uncomplicated communication or simplification of a design by the application of an effective

system / set of design rules.

This booklet logs attempts to explore the link between simplicity and complexity, showing how systems and rules applied at the design phase play an essential part in effective communication.

DESIGN FUNCTIONALITY GRAPH

Rational

Information Design

Branding

MIXED COMMUNICATION Poor communication unless mixed communication is the desired outcome

Emotional

Complex / Simple

Information art

Complicated

Fine Art

I REXS CICLE PL

SM By adjusting size, colour, texture, opacity, number of circles and taking intersected slices the seemingly simple circle can communicate many messages.

This section will explore the ways a circle can communicate. Even simple shapes use complex systems and rules.

Circle

Hole

Light / dark

Roll

Big / Small

Separate

Slip

Back to back

Semi circle

On top

Balance

Rocking

Pie

Eat

Cross

Crack

Hoop

Diagonal

Orbit

Circular Motion

Spin

Pass through

Vortex

Dashed

Linked

Stacked

Flat

Sleeping

Shake

Squashed

Bend

Dot

Accelerate / Decelerate

Drop / Jump

Trajectory

Bouncing

ACTIONS & SHAPES

Centre court

Free throw line

Clock

Dial

End of the tunnel

Eclipse

Tomato

Cherries

Doughnut

Baked potato

Turnip

Orange

Balloon

Candle

Bomb

Roulette

Sun

Target

Steering Wheel

Sea mine

Submarine propeller

Gun barrel

Alarm bell

Bike wheel

Life preserver

Button

Gold Ring

Window

Saw

Yo yo

8 Golf ball

Tennis ball

OBJECTS

Football

Bowling ball

Beach ball

8 Ball

FONT (UPPER CASE)

FONT (lower case)

NUMBER

60 secs 12 O’clock

55 secs 1 O’clock

50 secs 2 O’clock

45 secs 3 O’clock

40 secs 4 O’clock

35 secs 5 O’Clock

30 secs 6 O’clock

25 secs 7 O’clock

20 secs 8 O’clock

15 secs 9 O’clock

10 secs 10 O’clock

5 secs 11 O’clock

TIME

Th eff e c h ec om re ighl t o pl su ig n i ex lts ht ts ity us s si co of in m mm a g pl gr ex un des id ity ic ign s a p at s t d at ion gr iff ter . T id er ns hi ha en b s s s t c y g ec a la om a tio rg pl the n e ex rin ity g le ve ls.

PL - IT EX Y

E THPLE

M CO

COMPLEXITY

GRID 100 candidates were asked to draw a flower within 4 grids with differing complexity levels, 1 being the least complex and 4 being the most. The idea being that results taken from each grid would help identify patterns

GRID BOUNDARIES

between complexity and simplicity of communication. As the grid complexity level rises the flower sketches begin to look more like the desired shape. Also less mistakes are made and less time is taken to complete the sketch. This proves that a designs complexity runs parallel to simplicity of communication.

DESIRED SHAPE

OVERLAID SKETCHES

COMPLEXITY 1

COMPLEXITY 2

AVERAGE MISTAKES : 163 AVERAGE TIME : 1min 21secs

AVERAGE MISTAKES : 123 AVERAGE TIME : 1min 1secs

COMPLEXITY 3

COMPLEXITY 4

AVERAGE MISTAKES : 70 AVERAGE TIME : 39 secs

AVERAGE MISTAKES : 16 AVERAGE TIME : 29 secs

0 55

TIME IN S ECON DS

O M P LE

DT H

TO E

RY 1

IST AK

Y G RI D

25 30

KEY COMPLEXITY LEVEL 1

COMPLEXITY LEVEL 2 COMPLEXITY LEVEL 3 COMPLEXITY LEVEL 4

COMPLEXITY GRID

As the grid complexity increases mistakes made and time taken to draw the intended shape decrease steadily. Based on the average results collected from 100 people.

SIMPLEX F O L e of eris of s a ng ws sho meani was n o i e d sect in th wor to This t expla ow the n used e a e h n h e e c t d b ters xity an s have in sequ s o p ta ld ple sim ted. Fo in a cer a s cre word rlay ove

D S

X E PL M I S

SIMPLICITY

CON CLU SION COMPLEXITY

I identifying simplexity canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be done with one single solution. Due to differing factors for each type of design communication the problem becomes a wicked problem (a problem that is difficult or impossible to solve because of incomplete, contradictory, and changing requirements). By tailoring different tests to each aspect of design you can identify that

simplicity runs parallel to complexity and as the system / design rules complexity increases simplicity of communication increases. The simplexity theory applies to all types of design and its the basis for effective functionality in all aspects of life inside and outside of design.