One of my favorite lessons from Apple based on the article The Invincible Apple by Farhad Manjoo is #4 – Just Say NO. I think Apple believes that simplicity is often the best creative and business decision. Apple has had the courage to Keep It Simple no matter what the market, competitors, etc… were doing with their products. They keep the User Experience in balance with making the company Profitable. Overloading users with features can be frustrating to them and muting to the central message or purpose of the product. Scaling back on features or slow-release of features helps users understand and apply the product, yet it creates demand which generates more revenue long-term. Apple knows how to communicate and sell to it’s users.
Overall, I think Apple is one of the most creative companies of my lifetime. They practice methods and processes which are defining the future and leaving an amazing legacy. These are some of my other take-a-ways and thoughts after reading the article:
1) Borrowing Ideas is a selective art; Know what to borrow and when to borrow it.
2) Just because you can create a product doesn’t mean the product is the best solution.
3) Know The NO – Never stop creating no matter how many times you hear, “NO”. Ideas will fail – press forward and redevelop or start over.
4) Although they do not always come to a quick end and they aren’t the most popular; maintaining simple artistic and creative values can often produce the best overall result.
Manjoo, Farhad (2010, July/August). The Invincible Apple. Fast Company, 70-76, 112.
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/147/apple-nation.html