The public is more familiar with bad design than good…
“The public is more familiar with bad design than good design. It is, in effect, conditioned to prefer bad design, because that is what it lives with. The new becomes threatening, the old reassuring.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
People are accustomed to poor design, making new, better designs feel threatening.
In simple terms: Bad design is familiar; new design feels scary.
Educate audiences to appreciate good design.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- product launches
- branding
- user experience
- market research
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can designers shift public preference?
- What strategies help introduce innovative design?
Changing habits is slow and costly.