The Art of Omission. Interview with John Maeda

Less is more. Most people agree about that these days. Complicated everyday equipment, the endless possibilities for self-discovery and the data mountain on the internet lead to permanent stress. But how do we decide just what we do and don’t need? Who would know that better than John Maeda, author of “The Laws of Simplicity”? The President of the Rhode Island School of Design speaks of the need for a balance between simplicity and complexity, “less tech”, and the value of good mentors.

By Simone Achermann

You argue in “The Laws of Simplicity” that a basic requirement to have a good life is to reduce complexity wherever it appears. But what are the laws that help us decide what is important and what isn’t?

Complexity and simplicity have importance relative to each other as necessary rivals. Once you acknowledge the relationship between simplicity and complexity, it becomes second nature, and the two coexist. Finding a rhythm is actually easier and more natural than attempting to do just one or the other. The idea of ridding the earth of complexity might seem the shortest path to universal simplicity, but it may not be what we truly desire. In “The Laws of Simplicity”, Law 5: “Differences” explains this notion. Without the counterpoint of complexity, we could not recognize simplicity when we see it. Acknowledging contrast helps to identify qualities that we desire – which are often subject to change. The key to mastering balance lies in Law 10: “The One,” which says that simplicity is about subtracting the obvious, and adding the meaningful. We want to simplify without becoming over simplistic – preserving the comfort and meaning to achieve balance.

Does the technologization of everyday life in fact make life easier or should we rather get rid of tools such as iPads and TomToms?

I’ve never been about “high-tech” or “low-tech” but rather “less tech.” Society wants to return to the integrity of craft, the humanity of authorship, and the rebalancing of our virtual and physical spaces. The 21st century will see a renaissance in arts- and design-centered approaches to making things, where the individual will take center stage in culture and commerce. In the quest to develop new technology for technology’s sake, art and design are often neglected. Business leaders need to dedicate themselves to thinking more about design – to make things that people want. Interesting that you cite iPads and TomToms – two really well-designed devices. Design like that is needed to make sense of all the technological change around us. It is why Art and Design will rise in importance during this century as we try to make sense of all the possibilities that technology now affords. As technology and the ability to be connected disappear further into the background, becoming just another part of the daily fabric of life, a bit of the humanity we’ve always valued in the “real world” will begin to become more apparent. Educators, legislators, futurists and social scientists can’t help but think that science, math, engineering and technology are the silver bullets that will guide us forward. But people are coming to realize that true innovation comes from art and design.

One of the laws of simplicity is knowledge. What kind of active knowledge is still important now that the internet has made information ubiquitous?

The value of a good mentor or teacher is undeniable, and something the internet cannot replace – the type of knowledge and insight that is passed on through a real human connection. It was at the Media Lab that I met the late and brilliant Muriel Cooper, the woman who showed the world how to make the computer beautiful again. She was very important in my life because she’s the one who urged me to leave MIT and go to art school, the best advice I ever got. While at art school in Japan, I met legendary designers Paul Rand and Ikko Tanaka – mentors who proved to me that one could both thrive within the confines of society and imagine at extraordinary levels. They each made a living while at the same time realizing their potential with their “out of the box” imaginations. It was a balance between the former and the latter that made them stand out from their peers while creating work that was deemed relevant by society’s standards – work that lives on as iconic.

What are, in your opinion, the most important skills to be successful in the 21st century?

Critical thinking and making. Sitting at my perch as president of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), I’ve seen that here, it’s about the integrity of the work – from start to finish. RISD is one of the few remaining places where making matters just as much as thinking – where students aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty and make something real and human. They are the ones who will drive creativity and innovation in the 21st century. And that may mean taking the time and having the patience to get it right – to appreciate the process as much as the end result.

But do fast changing environments not also require for new skills or is it always the same rules that do the trick?

New skills certainly don’t hurt, but again, it comes down to critical thinking and making – these are the timeless hallmarks of innovation, and with them, one can most certainly solve any problem or achieve any goal.

John Maeda is a graphic designer and media artist very much in demand internationally and one of the leading experts in the field of simplicity in information technology. He was professor for media arts and sciences and design and informatics at the Media Lab of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Maeda is president of the Rhode Island School of Design, one of the most renowned US art colleges. His work has earned him numerous prizes, among them the National Design Award of the USA and the Mainichi Design Prize, Japan. His book “The Laws of Simplicity” (2006) is one of the most widely read books on the topic of simplicity.