Web design is an issue web owners routinely often misunderstand. Questions arise as to the look and feel of the website. There are questions as to whether a new site design is needed. These questions can be taxing on the psyche of the website owner.
One of the primary mantras for site design is simplicity. The whole notion that a website must be simplified can actually render website owners a bit confused.
If your idea of a simplified site is to remove items from your website so the focus is on a small grouping of products or information you may have an unbalanced view of simplicity in site design.
The idea of simplicity extends to the flow of the site. What I mean by that is the design can be rather complex, but the simplicity factor is made evident in the ease of navigation and fully defined segments of the site.
In essence, simplicity is less about a lack of information or design elements and more about a comprehensive means of helping your site visitors find what they need when they need it on their terms.
In defense of a simple looking site, I will say that it can be a bit overwhelming to find a site that has every available spot filled...