Common Forces

• Too much detail can be blinding.

• Clutter confuses.

• Diagrams abstract by using semantic information, not syntax.

• A good diagram is as simple as possible, but no simpler.

• Standard visual conventions are easily understood.

• Obscure conventions and unusual layouts in diagrams make them more difficult to understand.

• Surprises in design or presentation should be pleasant.

• Creativity and novelty are valuable for creating better solutions.

• Diagrams adhering to well-known standards and using orthogonal presentation rules are more comprehensible.

• Standards, clarity, and usability are driving forces for integrating work and group collaboration.

• Occam's Razor says that the simplest explanation is usually the right one (a version of Keep It Simple, Stupid KISS).