Aaron J. Shapiro

The Power of Less for Designers

Leo Babauta’s The Power of Less has been gaining plenty of attention since its December release – due in part to Leo’s exceptional web presence. I’d heard the name several times and took the plunge after hearing my favorite productivity blog – Lifehacker –enthusiastically mention the book several times.

There are plenty of reviews already available online – several of which being more eloquently written than I’m capable of – so rather than writing an extensive review, I’ll stick to what I know best. The brilliance behind The Power of Less is its applicability to virtually any lifestyle and profession – including mine as a fledgling freelance designer.

Basically…

Leo followed his own advice while writing this book – he stuck to the essential. Everything is clearly and efficiently stated, making this a quick read. Indeed, one could understand the principles behind The Power of Less after reading only the first 39 pages. The remaining pages are simply ways of putting them to practice.

The principles, of course, revolve around tackling fewer tasks. As a result, the goals, projects, and tasks that do receive attention will be accomplished both with both more enthusiasm and at a higher standard of quality than they would have otherwise. Easy enough, right?

If there’s any criticism to be had, it’s that the book makes too much sense. Leo’s suggestions are all terribly straightforward and often left me asking myself why I hadn’t already thought of them.

For Designers

Let’s face it – a career in design is only as rewarding as it is stressful. Projects pile up, clients expect us to accomplish the impossible, and we’re forced to not only be creative at every step, but to also live in a constant state of re-education as our tools and methods are either overhauled or made obsolete. Sure, we get to make a living as artists, but it’s not always as glorified or rewarding as that statement would imply.

Leo understands that this is an unfortunate reality for many of us, so instead of simply telling us to stop, he offers insights on how to work around our inescapable expectations. A significant portion of The Power of Less is dedicated to learning to say no to things that aren’t prioritized.

We as designers are all tied to our computers. We’re under a constant barrage of communication – most of which is virtually useless. E-mails contain requests for long-form correspondence. Instant messages require a dedicated block of time to be engaged in conversation. Even reading a 20-character twitter update shifts focus from our Coda or InDesign window to a line of text hovering above a desktop full of distractions.

Disconnecting is difficult. Saying no will often be met with disappointment. But as designers who work in this environment, Leo’s suggestions couldn’t make more sense.

Conclusion

Leo’s suggestions aren’t particularly groundbreaking (which isn’t to say they aren’t useful), but the book gave me a kick in the ass that I wouldn’t have received otherwise.

More importantly than the actual suggestions are how he recommends we accomplish them – one small step at a time. I’ve tried adopting strategies similar to those suggested, but they’ve typically been met with failure as a result of fizzling interest or exhaustion. Where the book shines is its ability to make each step seem attainable through proven, simply stated advice.

Is The Power of Less worth a read? Some sections struck me as being a bit too obvious, but Leo’s solid writing combined with the book’s applicability to designers would lead me to suggest it. Besides, it’s a quick read at an inexpensive price – how could you go wrong?

The Power of Less on Amazon