“That’s been one of my mantras – focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.”
- February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011
- American
- Entrepreneur, businessman, industrial designer
- He brought to the world revolutionary products that combined technology and design at a high level, such as the personal computer Macintosh, iPhone, and iPad, and also revolutionized the music industry with the iPod, iTunes, and iTunes Store.
Quote
“That’s been one of my mantras – focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.”
Explanation
In this quote, Steve Jobs outlines two core principles that guided his approach to both design and innovation: focus and simplicity. Jobs argues that while simplicity may seem easy to achieve, it is often much more difficult than it appears. To make something simple, one has to go through a rigorous process of clarifying and refining their ideas, stripping away the unnecessary elements. This reflects his belief that great design and user experiences come from concentrating on what matters most, and eliminating anything that complicates the core message or function.
Jobs believed that simplicity was the key to elegant solutions, and that once simplicity was achieved, it could enable truly transformative results. By applying this philosophy, Apple was able to create products like the iPhone and MacBook that were not only technologically advanced but also intuitive and easy to use. The clarity of design and function allowed users to engage with technology in a way that felt natural, almost seamless.
In the modern world, Jobs’ emphasis on focus and simplicity continues to influence product design across industries. Whether in technology, business, or art, the principle of stripping away the excess to reveal the essence of an idea has become central to creating products that are both functional and beautiful. Jobs’ words remind us that, in any field, achieving simplicity requires hard work, but once it is achieved, it provides the freedom to accomplish great things—innovations that can truly make a difference.
