⚖️ Pareto Principle — The few, doing most of the work
A simple split that seems to appear everywhere.
🧠 UX Interpretation: Imbalance made legible
The Pareto Principle suggests that roughly 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes. Wealth, productivity, bugs in software, sales, effort. The pattern repeats.
The numbers are not exact. The shape is what matters.
A small part drives a large effect.
This turns complexity into a rule of thumb. Find the 20%. Focus there.
🎯 Theme: Power concentrates
The model is compelling because it simplifies decision-making. It offers a shortcut through analysis.
But it also encourages a certain worldview. That inequality is natural. That imbalance is expected.
In practice, systems shift. The 20% changes. The ratio flexes.
Yet the idea persists. It is easy to remember. Easy to apply.
It works as a guide, not as a law.
💡 UX Takeaways
- Simple ratios can guide focus effectively.
- Patterns feel universal even when approximate.
- Models can encourage selective attention.
- Imbalance can be useful or misleading depending on context.
- Rules of thumb trade precision for speed.
📎 Footnote
The principle is named after economist Vilfredo Pareto, who observed that a large proportion of land in Italy was owned by a small percentage of the population. The idea has since been applied widely across many domains.