Simplicity has a unique, almost rebellious kind of power. It is what sets apart true brilliance from noise, yet it’s often undervalued. The reason is simple: complexity sells. It signals effort, mastery, innovation and an abundance of features. People often assume that if something is complex, it must be better. But, in truth, the most elegant and effective solutions are usually the simplest.

Complexity bias: why we favour the convoluted

Edsger Dijkstra put it best: “Simplicity is a great virtue, but it requires hard work to achieve it and education to appreciate it. And to make matters worse, complexity sells better.” This bias for complexity leads us to give undue credit to convoluted systems and ideas over simple, elegant solutions.

Think of it this way: complexity gives the impression of hard work. An intricate paper or a system with countless features hints at sleepless nights, deep expertise and innovation. But is that really the best way to solve a problem? No. Complexity is often smoke and mirrors, a signal that there is more under the hood when in reality, it is masking inefficiency.

The power of simple solutions

Consider this: simple solutions are easier to understand, communicate and scale. They are more accessible, less prone to errors and often more effective because they remove barriers instead of creating them. The more parts you have, the more things can break — it’s common sense. As Thomas Paine once said, “The more simple any thing is, the less liable it is to be disordered, and the easier repaired when disordered.”

Simplicity is harder than it looks

The irony here is that simplicity is hard. Simple ideas are easy to half-arse but difficult to master. Bruce Lee once said: “I fear not the man who has practised 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practised one kick 10,000 times.” Mastery lies in perfecting the basics, in stripping down an idea to its core and making every part flawless.

The bias against simplicity

We often disregard simplicity because it seems too basic to be impressive. Charlie Munger put it bluntly: “More investors don’t copy our model because our model is too simple ... Most people believe you can’t be an expert if it’s too simple.” This tendency to complicate things leads us away from the fundamentals, the very things that ensure success. Superfluous layers of complexity may look impressive, but they distract from what really matters.

Learning from the masters

Look at some of the greatest minds in history: Leonardo da Vinci, Steve Jobs, Jiro Ono. They all understood the power of simplicity. They stripped away the non-essential and focused on the fundamentals. They didn’t try to do everything well; they worked to make the basics perfect. True mastery isn’t about having more — it’s about needing less and doing more with it.

The case for simple solutions

It’s time to rethink how we approach problems. Instead of glorifying complexity, we should strive to solve difficult problems with simple solutions. Complexity may signal expertise, but simplicity demonstrates true insight. And, in the end, it’s simplicity that endures, creates impact and drives progress.

Simplicity requires discipline, focus and a deep understanding of the fundamentals. Instead of getting lost in the noise of elaborate solutions, focus on clarity. The best solutions are not the ones that impress with their intricacy, but the ones that simply and effectively solve the problem at hand.

• Christian Chin-Gurret is a writer with a Master of Science in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and a Bachelor of Science in Product Design, who offers a unique perspective on shaping the future of business through innovation, disruption and technology