Over-Complicating Simplicity at Backpack
Here's an example of unnecessary simplification, from 37Signals's "Backpack" organizing web app. There are only three choices, yet they are hidden beneath a "more options" link, thus creating a fourth choice when you really only need to offer three.
Why hide the limited functionality? Just so people don't notice how limited it is? The extra options take up little extra screen real estate, and when expanded all of the choices would fit on one screen. By showing all of the choices at once you eliminate the need for javascript, too. Simpler is usually better.
The Backpack screenshots are from a pompous article in the often excellent "Signals vs. Noise" blog.
Comments and faves
matic_pl added this photo to their favorites. (52 months ago)