If you work in design, you are probably sick of hearing the words “innovation,” “collaboration,” and even the word “design.” They’re used so often that they’ve almost lost all meaning. But sometimes we can be surprised by those things that have been right in front of us. Thinking about the etymology of these words made me think about exactly why we, as designers, were originally inspired by these ideas.

Ricky Gervais is a great designer.

Some would say that Gervais’s cutting jokes as the host of the Golden Globes were a form of professional suicide. In fact, after the event, several members of the Hollywood community said that he would never work again.

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Here’s the problem: those people have an old-fashioned idea of power.

When we think of innovation, we tend to associate it with forward motion. We may envision it as a leap ahead—a radical breakthrough that happens quickly—or, more realistically, as a steady march forward, during which a series of small advances and refinements eventually lead to a desired outcome.

From their spare stores to their exquisitely simple product lines, the 30-year-old Japanese lifestyle brand Muji has created an aesthetic that manages to be utilitarian and high-end at the same time. Muji's name comes from the Japanese word mujirushi, which translates to "no brand," and it tells you everything you need to know about the company's design ethos. Muji design is an exercise in restraint -- in stripping down products to their most basic parts.