Why Simplicity Always Beats Complexity in Product Design

Hey, Mats here! As a founder who constantly refines and iterates on a product, I’ve learned that simplicity is key to great product design. In the fast-paced world of startups, it’s tempting to add more features, make things more sophisticated, or complicate the user interface. But in my experience, keeping things simple has led to better outcomes—for both our team and, most importantly, our users.

Here’s why I believe simplicity wins every time.

1. Simplicity Lets You Learn More, Faster

When we first started building KfzPortal24.de, we focused on keeping everything as simple as possible. Why? Because simplicity lets you learn faster. You don’t get bogged down in the complexities of a feature or interface that might not even resonate with your users.

One of the worst things you can do is create a complex feature that people don’t understand. If users aren’t clear on how something works, they won’t use it—no matter how “innovative” it is. By keeping our product lean and easy to use, we were able to get feedback and insights much faster, allowing us to make better decisions about what to build next.

2. MVP First: Focus on What Matters

For us, it’s always about starting with an MVP (Minimum Viable Product). You can have the most beautiful design or the most intricate feature, but if it doesn’t solve a real user problem, it doesn’t matter. That’s why I always prioritize understanding the user and their needs before adding any bells and whistles.

Each feature we add to KfzPortal24 is so important and well thought-out that it could almost live as its own product. If a feature doesn’t add enough value on its own, we reconsider if it’s worth the complexity. Keeping things simple helps ensure we’re building products that are not only functional but truly useful.

3. Avoiding the Trap of Overcomplication

I’ll admit—there have been times when I overcomplicated a product. I’ve worked on features that, in the end, users didn’t engage with. The result? I scrapped a lot of code and simplified it way down. Those moments were frustrating, but they taught me an important lesson: if it’s not clear and easy to use, people won’t bother with it.

Simplicity helps you avoid this trap. It forces you to focus on the essentials and cut out anything that doesn’t directly serve the user’s needs.

4. User Experience Above All

At KfzPortal24.de, user experience always comes first. It’s not about design trends or fancy features—it’s about what the user needs and how they feel while using the product. If the product isn’t easy to use or doesn’t solve the user’s problem, nothing else matters.

By keeping things simple, we make sure that users can accomplish their tasks without friction. A complicated design may look cool, but if it’s confusing, it’s going to turn people away. Simplicity keeps the focus on delivering a seamless, intuitive experience.

5. Skip the Design Phase—Focus on What to Build

One advice I can give other founders and startups is to skip the design phase—at least in the beginning. Use frameworks like Material UI or Bootstrap to get your product off the ground quickly. Don’t waste time obsessing over how your product looks. Focus on what to build and how it helps your users. Once you have a functional, simple product, you can always refine the design later.

This approach not only saves time but keeps the focus on what’s most important: delivering value to the user. The design can evolve as your product does, but the foundation should always be simple and functional.

Final Thoughts

Simplicity in product design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about delivering value to users quickly and effectively. By keeping things simple, you can iterate faster, make smarter decisions, and ensure that your product is truly meeting user needs.

If you’re a startup founder, I advise focusing on what matters most: the user experience. Cut out the unnecessary complexity and watch how simplicity can drive real value for your product.

Until next time,
Mats