Chaos, is simply the amount of variability in an environment which one has to deal with to achieve an objective or to get a task done. Here we talk of the Negative Chaos, not the one which is induced in a controlled environment to instigate innovation.

Letting Chaos remain, and operating with it, one would only be ”getting around” chaos – to “somehow” meet the objectives. Moving up the ladder of innovation, requires chaos removal, bringing about homogeneity; a belief of “Making things better”.  Even nature requires matter to achieve equilibrium.  

A way to find chaos is to identify tasks which require applying of mind or performing an action, however small it may be. A way to counter chaos is to make as many such tasks perfunctory in nature. The more we standardize the less the mind has to process unnecessary things. Make things easier to do and let the brain and energies be focussed on higher level work – reach a state of “high on design”. At the micro level even an extra mouse click or a hand movement could be avoided.  

Keen observation, awareness of the environment around and inquiry are the key to innovate. 

Germany for one is a country which has made me go “wow” many times on the smallest of things. An example I love quoting - the process of folding an A4 size paper and putting it in an envelope. If any of you have received a letter from Germany, there would always be 3 folds, with the address on the top fold. The beauty of it is that if the A4 is folded thrice, it will fit in any of the small sized envelope in the entire country. The pictures below speak more: 

The 3 Folds Standard

Folded Letter in the standard Envelope

I practice some of these principles, they take time to design and implement, but it sure gives users an easy time.