Tesler's law

Tesler's law, also known as the law of conservation of complexity, states that for any system, there is a certain amount of complexity that cannot be reduced. In UX design, this principle suggests that while designers can shift complexity around to make a product easier to use, the overall complexity of the system remains constant.

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Implications of this principle

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• Simplify user interfaces: Focus on simplifying the user interface to hide or reduce complexity for the user.
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• Smart defaults: Use smart defaults to handle complexity behind the scenes.
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• User control and customization: Provide options for user control and customization to manage complexity according to their preference.
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• Educational resources: Offer tutorials, help sections, or tooltips to educate users about complex features in an accessible way.
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• Balanced complexity: Balance complexity between the system and the user, ensuring that the product is both powerful and usable.

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Desired effect

Applying Tesler’s law in UX design aims to create products that are user-friendly and accessible, without oversimplifying the system to the point of losing functionality. By thoughtfully managing complexity, designers can ensure that users have a positive experience while still offering the full capabilities of the product.

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Summary

Tesler’s law highlights the importance of thoughtful complexity management in UX design. By balancing the inherent complexity of a system with user-friendly design principles, designers can create products that are both powerful and accessible, ensuring a satisfying user experience.

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