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Less but Better
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Dieter Rams' design principle: fewer things, done exceptionally.
The Idea
"Weniger, aber besser." — Dieter Rams
Strip to essentials. Every element must justify its existence. What remains is sharper for what's absent.
Why It Matters
- Features you don't ship have no bugs, no support cost, no confusion.
- Removing is harder than adding — and more valuable.
- Focus creates identity. A product that does everything stands for nothing.
How to Apply
- For every addition, consider a removal.
- Ask: if we deleted this, who would complain, and why?
- Celebrate cuts as loudly as ships.
The Trap
Removing popular features to feel minimalist. Less but better means less of what doesn't matter. The test is whether quality of what remains rises.
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