A UML Pattern Language (Software Engineering)

Too much detail can be blinding.

Clutter confuses.

Diagrams abstract by using semantic information, not syntax.

A good diagram is as simple as possible, but no simpler.

Standard visual conventions are easily understood.

Obscure conventions and unusual layouts in diagrams make them more difficult to understand.

Surprises in design or presentation should be pleasant.

Creativity and novelty are valuable for creating better solutions.

Diagrams adhering to well-known standards and using orthogonal presentation rules are more comprehensible.

Standards, clarity, and usability are driving forces for integrating work and group collaboration.

Occam's Razor says that the simplest explanation is usually the right one (a version of Keep It Simple, Stupid KISS).