Jeff Kinney, the author of The Diary of A Wimpy Kid series, has created one of the most popular book series in modern times. Yet, the strategy he employed to create this franchise ranges from twenty books, with the 21st installment of the series coming in October. So then the question becomes: What strategy did Jeff Kinney use that makes his books stand out on the shelf to the youth? Well, he simply used simplicity. From the design and structure to even the plot, everything about Diary of A Wimpy Kid is simple and easy to understand, and that is what makes it so great.
The most noticeable visual element of the novels where the simplicity shines the most comes with the iconic character designs. Kinley uses stick figures, the most elementary style of drawing people and characters, and it has become one of the strongest aspects of his stories. He managed to recreate recognizable characters for his readers by stripping the complexity and details that come with character design by using major standout details to represent each character, such as height, hair, and accessories.
Another major aspect comes from the text font style Kinley opts to use a comical handwritten style) and the page design itself, which is styled after pages in a notebook rather than being pages void without designs and filled with words. In tandem with the comical text font style, the pages themselves are structured more like a comic book rather than a novel, further pushing the level of accessibility and making the novels less intimidating for young kids and teens to read.
And to wrap up his simplistic masterpiece, Kinney uses simple, modern, and realistic plot points mixed with a relatable main character in Greg Heffley. The stories and plot aren’t over-the-top and don’t require readers to analyze the plot or text to a high degree because they are relatable, tackling topics and tropes around being in middle school and family; with short and easily digestible sentences and language making the books even more accessible.
All in all, Kinley has created a juggernaut book franchise by channeling the biggest strengths of simplicity. The accessibility and simplicity of his books allow him access to one of the most difficult markets and demographics for authors in the book industry to reach: teens and young people alike. More proof that in the world we live in, sometimes less really does equal more.
