Interface Quote by Ben Shneiderman
“A picture is worth a thousand words. An interface is worth a thousand pictures.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Designing the User Interface, 1995
Visual representations convey complex ideas efficiently; similarly, well‑designed interfaces communicate information through imagery.
In simple terms: Pictures convey ideas; interfaces use pictures.
Key Takeaway
Design interfaces that communicate visually.
Themes
design
communication
visualization
Mood
analytical
pragmatic
Type
technical
instructive
When to use this quote
- software UI
- web design
- educational tools
Key Concepts
human‑computer interaction
information design
Questions to Reflect On
- When is text preferable to images?
- How to balance visual and textual information?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on visuals can obscure nuance.
