[naikrovek]

This is what I get for using the wrong analogy for the sake of saving myself some typing...

When I wrote this, I was thinking of my time in a maker space where all tools belonged on a wall in a specific spot. You could see, at a glance, if the tool you needed was there, and you could see at a glance if any tools were gone at the end of the day.

I would not want to keep track of tools in a common-use area without a system like this. (I've only described a portion of the entire system.)

This at-a-glance inventory system is what I meant when I said "toolbox" and there was no way for you to know that.

[systemvoltage]

Garage is a great example, 100% agree. The sad thing is that what you just said, being able to see everything at a glance, is a taboo in the design circles. The argument they're making is that too much information overloads the user. I don't buy that - we are bombarded by complexity every moment. We evolved to spot prey/threat in the enormous complexity of foliage. Our vision system can take a lot of abuse.

What designers fail to understand is the difference between complexity resulting from disorganization vs. complexity resulting from logically laid out tools on the wall - all available for selection in a moment's notice. The latter is the complexity all humans can handle. We do this everyday when shopping groceries, driving cars to navigating airports.

[naikrovek]

The human brain is capable of so much; can adapt to SO MUCH.. I also do not believe that too much information overloads the user. A sudden wall of info may he a bit of a surprise, sure.

Look at how much information is on a single page of literally any novel! Or a complex spreadsheet. All of it easily ingested when you just take the time required to see things in the required way(s).