The principle of simplicity

Simplicity sounds straightforward in theory, but in practice - especially in fields like innovation, the public sector, and research - it’s anything but.

Having worked in all three sectors, I’ve observed the following -  when it comes to engaging society, stakeholders, or supporters - Houston, we’ve got a problem. Instead of creating engagement, discussions often get lost in technical language, abstract frameworks, and industry-specific jargon.  

Simplicity isn’t about making things superficial. It’s about clarity and focus. It’s about taking something complex and leaving the essence - precise, meaningful, and engaging.

But let’s be honest - it’s not easy. Just like Albert Einstein once said:

“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."

I became an ambassador for this principle because I see brilliant ideas - from presentations to reports - missing their full potential without the right communication and engagement tools.

Need for simplicity 

One of the challenges in the public sector is making policies clear and relevant. Too often, bureaucratic language makes them hard to understand for the people they are meant to serve. The result? A disconnect between institutions and the public.

Simplicity means removing unnecessary complexity. Instead of using legal jargon, focus on how policies affect daily life. This can be achieved through focused narratives or engaging activities. For example, rather than detailing every legal term of a digital privacy regulation, invite people to imagine their personal data as a treasured secret safeguarded by trusted friends. Through interactive workshops, highlight how these rules protect everyday online life—making complex policies relatable. Such activities also help onboard stakeholders to a project or initiative.

In research, complexity is expected. But for research to create real change in the society or industries,  it needs to reach beyond academic circles - to policymakers, industry leaders, and the public. This requires a shift from simply delivering information to creating engagement. Imagine a study on renewable energy technologies. Instead of just publishing dense technical data, the researchers could host interactive seminars that use visual narratives and case studies. By explaining how these innovations can transform daily energy use, they make the research accessible and relevant to policymakers and industry leaders, sparking meaningful discussion and change.

In the tech world, it’s easy to focus on features instead of why they matter. Take artificial intelligence. A company might describe its product as: "A multi-layered machine learning system designed to optimize data processing and decision-making algorithms." Technically correct? Yes. Meaningful? No. A simpler, more powerful way to say it:"This AI helps doctors detect diseases faster, improving patient health." Simplicity in technology isn’t about removing depth - it’s about making depth usable.

Practical ways 

There are many ways to make your work more engaging by applying the principle of simplicity - not just in narratives, but also in the format. 

Filmmaking has taught me a lot about this. I’ve seen how the right idea and format can turn complexity into something people actually connect with. And that’s exactly what’s needed when working with systems, policies, or innovations - because complexity, on its own, rarely moves people.

The first step is always identifying the core challenge and the people involved. Take an example where a technical healthcare innovation needs to work across many EU countries. The difficulty isn’t just the technology itself - it’s the layers of regulations, diverse healthcare systems, and digital infrastructures that don’t align. Policymakers work within different legal frameworks, healthcare providers follow different practices, and nothing fits together.

How do you make something like this work? You focus on the people.

The patients who can’t access treatment because the system isn’t there yet.

The innovators who saw the gap and built a solution.

The policymakers who enabled change.

And then, the actual impact - the moment when someone finally gets access to healthcare because things shifted.

One practical solution how to achieve this, is by capturing these stories in film. But these stories aren’t just for inspiration. They are strategic tools - they take an abstract solution and make it real. They help onboard stakeholders, engage decision-makers, educate and create momentum.

That’s the power of simplicity - it removes the barriers and helps people understand, connect, and act.