Skip to content

When you have trouble with things—whether it's figuring…

“When you have trouble with things—whether it's figuring out whether to push or pull a door or the arbitrary vagaries of the modern computer and electronics industries—it's not your fault. Don't blame yourself: blame the designer.” quote by Donald A. Norman
Download Open image
“When you have trouble with things—whether it's figuring out whether to push or pull a door or the arbitrary vagaries of the modern computer and electronics industries—it's not your fault. Don't blame yourself: blame the designer.”

Donald A. Norman

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

When technology fails, blame the designer, not the user; design should be intuitive.

In simple terms: Design flaws, not user error.

Key Takeaway

Demand better design.

Themes

design usability technology

Mood

practical analytical

Type

design technical

When to use this quote

  • product development
  • UI/UX design
  • consumer education

Key Concepts

human‑centered design error prevention

Questions to Reflect On

  • What design changes would improve usability?
  • How can users give feedback to designers?
A Different Perspective

Designers may overlook diverse user needs.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Donald A. Norman

Explore all 97 Donald A. Norman quotes

More Arbitrary quotes

Browse all 529 Arbitrary quotes