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September's poll question: What do you expect in a “simple” interface?

The blog highlights the importance of simplicity in software interfaces and introduces September’s poll, asking users what they expect from a "simple" interface. Participants can share their thoughts and enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card.

Laurence Cadieux
Laurence Cadieux

Hello! My name is Laurence Cadieux, and I’m a Communication Coordinnator here at Devolutions. My role includes overseeing the content strategy and development of our blog, managing the content and communication for our VIP advocate platform “Devolutions Force,” and working closely with our PR partners around the world. I also handle our off-site content opportunities (magazines, journals, newspapers, etc.). Academically, I have a bachelor’s degree in marketing. When I’m not working, I sing in a band, and I enjoy watching my favorite movies again and again. I also love cooking, and during the pandemic, I became a bread expert — I can now bake the most amazing key lime pie on earth (if I do say so myself!). Plus, I recently discovered LEGO and there is no turning back — I’m hooked! I’m always happy to help, and you can reach me directly at lcadieux@devolutions.net.

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Einstein’s first law of work was: “Out of clutter, find simplicity.” Goethe claimed: “Nothing is true, but that which is simple.” And Bruce Lee said: “Simplicity is the key to brilliance.”

Well, for decades tech companies have been trying to apply this “key to brilliance” — SIMPLICITY — to their software and app interfaces. Some of them have been successful, and others not-so-much (and a few have forced us to ask: “What in the world were they thinking!?”).

And this brings us to September’s poll question. This month, we would like to know: What do you expect in a “simple” interface?

For example, you may expect things like:

  • Intuitive and predictable navigation;
  • Consistent structure, icons and buttons;
  • Breadcrumbs that tell you where you’ve been;
  • Purposeful use of color (i.e. using color to convey meaning and information, and not just for esthetics);
  • Pagination to provide a sense of location and a good experience while navigating the content on multiple pages;
  • Progress bars for multi-step processes.

These are just suggestions to spark your thinking. You are welcome to share anything that you believe is important, and that you wish every tech company understood about the art and science of making interfaces SIMPLE.

Please also note that we are not necessarily referring to our products. This poll question is generally about all the programs and apps that you use in your day-to-day work experience.

However, if you do have comments that are specific to our products (e.g., Remote Desktop Manager, Devolutions Workspace, etc.), then we definitely want to hear about it. Tell us what’s on your mind!

You could win

Simply (see what we did there?) by participating in September’s poll, you will be automatically entered to win one of two $25 Amazon gift cards. We will announce the lucky winners and discuss the responses in early October.

Let us wrap things up with the sage words of Frederic Chopin, who surely knew a thing or two about the purpose, power, and profundity of simplicity:

“Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.”

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