Is clever working against us?
I think it’s safe to say that designers spend most of their time trying to be clever. All of the sketching and dot-connecting — it’s usually in search of a solution that has some kind of aw, sweet man! twist. Why do we do that? Is it worth the trouble? Worse yet: is clever actually working against us?
Design is a form of communication, but unlike most other forms, designed communication implies clarity and authenticity. (After all, design is less successful the more it muddles its message or confuses its audience.) Clever solutions, on the other hand, demand complexity. In order to build that hidden-genitalia surprise, we must stack message on top of message.
That said, I don’t think that clever is always bad. When used in the context of the right message, clever can be wonderfully meaningful.
However, I don’t think that all design should be clever. My point is this: sometimes (perhaps more than we care to admit), a simple solution may be designed better than a clever solution. Clever (as fun as it may be) isn’t always the answer.
Interesting post. I agree that sometimes the simplest solution is best, but I don’t necessarily agree that clever and simple are mutually exclusive. Sometimes something is remarkably clever in its simplicity.