To the brilliant minds designing the apps and operating systems we use every day: We, the digitally seasoned generation, have a simple, heartfelt plea. It’s time to talk about KISS: Keep It Simple, Stupid.
We remember a golden era. A time when getting text from one place to another was an act of elegant, instantaneous simplicity. You blocked the text. You hit Ctrl+C (or Cmd+C). You clicked the new location. You hit Ctrl+V (or Cmd+V). Done. It was a muscle memory reflex, a universal language, a foundational pillar of computing.
The Tyranny of the Tiny Icon
Now? Now, the essential act of “copy and paste” feels like a digital scavenger hunt designed by someone who’s never had a deadline.
We’re confronted by a parade of problems:
- The Elusive Context Menu: We tap and hold, and a tiny toolbar appears—or sometimes, it doesn’t. It slides away, or it covers the text we want to select. And when it finally shows up, the icons are ambiguous, changing position based on the phase of the moon and which operating system update landed last week. Is that the “copy” icon, or the “share” icon, or the “duplicate” icon? We have to guess.
- The Fickle Clipboard: We copy something, and then when we go to paste, there’s a new pop-up asking if we want to “Paste,” “Paste as Plain Text,” “Paste and Match Style,” or “Paste from History.” We just wanted the words! This isn’t efficiency; it’s decision fatigue built into the simplest task.
- The Disappearing Tool: The most frustrating experience is when the tried-and-true keyboard shortcuts—the bedrock of rapid interaction—are overridden or simply don’t work because some developer decided a tiny, non-standard icon was “more intuitive” on mobile.
Intuitive Design is Invisible Design
Here is the truth that great designers understand: A truly intuitive tool is one you never have to think about. When we are forced to pause, search for a symbol, and decode an icon, the software has failed us. It has taken a simple action and made it a cognitive burden.
The goal of modern design shouldn’t be to introduce novelty; it should be to remove friction. When a system uses established, universal symbols and actions—like the simple, universally recognized text of “Copy” and “Paste”—it respects the user’s time and intelligence. It allows us to get on with the real task we opened the app for.
So, to the next generation of designers, we offer this counsel:
- Respect the Standard: Stop trying to make a clever, new icon for “copy.” We know the two overlapping squares. We know the keyboard shortcuts. Let them work, everywhere, every time.
- Prioritize Function over Flash: A minimalist look is great, but don’t sacrifice clarity at the altar of clean aesthetics. If an icon is too abstract to recognize instantly, it’s poor design. A simple word—“COPY”—is often the clearest, fastest solution.
- Reward Muscle Memory: The most efficient users are those who can perform actions without looking. When you constantly move buttons and change icons, you break that muscle memory, turning power users into frustrated novices.
Let’s bring back the effortless elegance of the basics. Embrace KISS. Because sometimes, the most sophisticated design is the one that simply and reliably gets out of the way. Give us back our simple block, copy, and paste. Our productivity—and our sanity—will thank you for it.
I got a tad angry trying to copy and paste – Sorry Gen Z about the emoji but I grew up on :) and :-D