Rule #5 - If you can do it with less, then do it

"This is a riff on an adage left over from Modernism, sometimes known as the “less is more” theory. It’s not so much an aesthetic dogma now as it is a bit of common sense: the more stuff jammed into a given space, the harder it is for the average bear to see what they are supposed to be seeing. Plus, it’s trashy; anybody can load a bunch of stuff onto a dull message and pretend it’s a complex work of art, but there’s a big difference between “complicated” and “complex,” a state that often comes about in a simple context. True art lies in the harmonic convergence of thoughtfulness and creativity applied to very little. If the concept and the form are truly beautiful, there can be very, very of it to look at-without sacrificing a rich experience. Think about how much visual garbage gets thrown at someone walking down the street everyday, and ask yourself: “Wouldn’t it make more sense to delete some of that mush in favor of something sleek, clear and noticeable?” Make more meaning out of what is there; don’t gunk it up. If the idea is clear without adding, putting more stuff in is just “gilding the lily;” if the idea isn’t there and it’s not visually interesting, adding to it is simply trying to make “a silk purse from a sow’s ear.” Design Elements: A Graphic Style Manual, Stratham