Give a designer infinite options and they'll stare at a blank screen for hours. Give them three constraints and they'll have a prototype by lunch.
I've been thinking about this a lot while building this site.
The Constraints I Set
- One font family for display — no substitutes
- One accent colour — or nothing
- No decorations that don't carry meaning
Every element you see earns its place by reinforcing the design direction. If removing it makes the design clearer, it doesn't belong.
The Result
A coherent visual language I couldn't have arrived at with total freedom. The constraint was the design direction.
Next time you feel stuck, don't add options. Remove them.