--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't bring on the design engineers too…" description: "\"Don't bring on the design engineers too soon. One of the worst things you can do in the early phases of a project is to bring on a bunch of detailed de..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/bruce-pittman-23883_clear-direction_don-t-bring-on-the-design-engineers-too_120277.jpg" --- # Don't bring on the design engineers too soon. One of the… ![“Don't bring on the design engineers too soon. One of the worst things you can do in the early phases of a project is to bring on a bunch of detailed design engineers and then not give them clear direction and close supervision.” quote by Bruce Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/bruce-pittman-23883_clear-direction_don-t-bring-on-the-design-engineers-too_120277.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/bruce-pittman-23883_clear-direction_don-t-bring-on-the-design-engineers-too_120277.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/bruce-pittman-23883_clear-direction_don-t-bring-on-the-design-engineers-too_120277.jpg) > “Don't bring on the design engineers too soon. One of the worst things you can do in the early phases of a project is to bring on a bunch of detailed design engineers and then not give them clear direction and close supervision.” [Bruce Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pittman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Introducing detailed design engineers too early, without clear guidance, leads to wasted effort and confusion in a project's formative stage. **In simple terms:** Don't add detailed designers too soon without direction. Key Takeaway Early‑stage clarity outweighs premature specialization. Themes project management team dynamics design process Mood pragmatic cautious Type management advice When to use this quote - software development - hardware prototyping - R&D initiatives Key Concepts role timing leadership clarity Practical Applications - establish concise objectives before expanding the team Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance early expertise with the need for direction? - What signals indicate it's time to bring on design engineers? A Different Perspective Early design input can surface hidden constraints that later stages miss. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clear direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear-direction/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Engineers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineers/) ## Related quotes > [ In the judgment of design engineers, the ordinary means of communicating with a computer are entirely inadequate. \[...\] Graphical communication in some form or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-wilkes/in-the-judgment-of-design-engineers-the-ordinary-means-of/) [Maurice Wilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-wilkes/) > [“Too close supervision stifles the mental growth of children.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/too-close-supervision-stifles-the-mental-growth-of-children/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Often the lack of clear direction and goals can waste away our time and energy and contribute to imbalance in our lives. A life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/often-the-lack-of-clear-direction-and-goals-can-waste-away-our-time/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [After PyeongChang and after the tours, I was searching for different fulfillment. And then when my fiancee walked into my life, it became clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-moir/after-pyeongchang-and-after-the-tours-i-was-searching-for-different/) [Scott Moir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-moir/) > [I think as a company, if you can get two things right--having a clear direction on what you are trying to do and bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/i-think-as-a-company-if-you-can-get-two-things-right-having-a-clear/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [“Leadership is about focus and concentrations. To be in focus, choose a clear direction. To concentrate, remain in that direction!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/leadership-is-about-focus-and-concentrations-to-be-in-focus-choose-a/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [With 'Words, Words, Words,' that show was me experimenting with something, and then there was a clear direction for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/with-words-words-words-that-show-was-me-experimenting-with-something/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [“She knew she needed to quit worrying, stop being so indecisive, and place the matter in God's hands. He knew what was best for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-e-brunstetter/she-knew-she-needed-to-quit-worrying-stop-being-so-indecisive-and/) [Wanda E. 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The leadership team believed that God was leading us to focus on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kendrick/but-after-about-a-year-praying-there-was-just-this-clear-direction/) [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) > [“Without sense of purpose and clear direction of your life, you will only be building a fake brand of you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/without-sense-of-purpose-and-clear-direction-of-your-life-you-will/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [“Direct the Rider. What looks like resistance is often a lack of clarity. So provide crystal-clear direction. (Think 1% milk.) Motivate the Elephant. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-heath/direct-the-rider-what-looks-like-resistance-is-often-a-lack-of/) [Chip Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-heath/) > [It's not great if someone gives you sort of bland praise without giving you clear direction and say, "This is good, let's try it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/it-s-not-great-if-someone-gives-you-sort-of-bland-praise-without/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) ## More by Bruce Pittman > [Don't start vast projects with half-vast resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-pittman/don-t-start-vast-projects-with-half-vast-resources/) [Bruce Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pittman/) > [The commercial space industry owes a huge debt to Patti Grace Smith. There might not be a commercial spaceflight industry were it not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-pittman/the-commercial-space-industry-owes-a-huge-debt-to-patti-grace-smith/) [Bruce Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pittman/) > [NSS is delighted to support the New Horizons mission by helping to share this exciting milestone in space exploration with the general public in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-pittman/nss-is-delighted-to-support-the-new-horizons-mission-by-helping-to/) [Bruce Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pittman/) > [The National Space Society is proud to have EIS as our flagship spaceflight program, and we look forward to the remarkable results that will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-pittman/the-national-space-society-is-proud-to-have-eis-as-our-flagship/) [Bruce Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pittman/) > [Spend 10% of the project budget making sure you understand problem, the key technologies involved, and have looked at all of the options before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-pittman/spend-10-of-the-project-budget-making-sure-you-understand-problem-the/) [Bruce Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pittman/) > [NSS has strongly supported competition in both the NASA Commercial Re-supply Services program and the Commercial Crew program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-pittman/nss-has-strongly-supported-competition-in-both-the-nasa-commercial-re/) [Bruce Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pittman/) > [If there's going to be the development of a commercial space economy, whatever it is, shouldn't you do your exploration to prepare a path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-pittman/if-there-s-going-to-be-the-development-of-a-commercial-space-economy/) [Bruce Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pittman/) > [Get the entire team involved in identifying and evaluating project risks. Everyone looks at the project differently, and sometimes the input from the student…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-pittman/get-the-entire-team-involved-in-identifying-and-evaluating-project/) [Bruce Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pittman/) > [Competition like that seen between Blue Origin and SpaceX is key to rapid progress in space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-pittman/competition-like-that-seen-between-blue-origin-and-spacex-is-key-to/) [Bruce Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pittman/) > [The key here is that with planning, you can take advantage of opportunities, where without this planning, you may just watch them pass you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-pittman/the-key-here-is-that-with-planning-you-can-take-advantage-of/) [Bruce Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pittman/) > [Blue Origin's successful capsule escape demonstration represents a material step toward a fully re-usable sub-orbital vehicle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-pittman/blue-origin-s-successful-capsule-escape-demonstration-represents-a/) [Bruce Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pittman/) > [Projects are usually undertaken to either solve a problem or take advantage of an opportunity. The probability that the project - even if precisely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-pittman/projects-are-usually-undertaken-to-either-solve-a-problem-or-take/) [Bruce Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pittman/) > [Keeping the risk management plan up to date can transform it from a door stop into a vital project management tool. Remember: what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-pittman/keeping-the-risk-management-plan-up-to-date-can-transform-it-from-a/) [Bruce Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pittman/) > [We endorse Blue Origin and Jeff Bezos' vision of 'millions of people living and working in space' - this is the heart and soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-pittman/we-endorse-blue-origin-and-jeff-bezos-vision-of-millions-of-people/) [Bruce Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pittman/) > [You see this swirl of ideas and interaction of different players. Those interactions are helping to increase the pace of commercial space activity. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-pittman/you-see-this-swirl-of-ideas-and-interaction-of-different-players/) [Bruce Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pittman/) [Explore all 25 Bruce Pittman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pittman/) ## More Clear direction quotes > [In art and science we are now in a delta, at the end of the long flow of progress. In a delta there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bateman/in-art-and-science-we-are-now-in-a-delta-at-the-end-of-the-long-flow/) [Robert Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bateman/) > [Often the lack of clear direction and goals can waste away our time and energy and contribute to imbalance in our lives. A life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/often-the-lack-of-clear-direction-and-goals-can-waste-away-our-time/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [“Direct the Rider. What looks like resistance is often a lack of clarity. So provide crystal-clear direction. (Think 1% milk.) Motivate the Elephant. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-heath/direct-the-rider-what-looks-like-resistance-is-often-a-lack-of/) [Chip Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-heath/) > [“Without sense of purpose and clear direction of your life, you will only be building a fake brand of you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/without-sense-of-purpose-and-clear-direction-of-your-life-you-will/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [But after about a year praying, there was just this clear direction. The leadership team believed that God was leading us to focus on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kendrick/but-after-about-a-year-praying-there-was-just-this-clear-direction/) [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) > [“Leaders worth following inspire their people not just with clear direction, but with a unified purpose and passionate commitment to a cause:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-sheetz-runkle/leaders-worth-following-inspire-their-people-not-just-with-clear/) Becky Sheetz-Runkle > [It's not great if someone gives you sort of bland praise without giving you clear direction and say, "This is good, let's try it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/it-s-not-great-if-someone-gives-you-sort-of-bland-praise-without/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [“Clarity within your vibrational energy embraces the journey of your soul giving you clear direction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-a-anderson/clarity-within-your-vibrational-energy-embraces-the-journey-of-your/) [Debbie A. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-a-anderson/) > [“She knew she needed to quit worrying, stop being so indecisive, and place the matter in God's hands. He knew what was best for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-e-brunstetter/she-knew-she-needed-to-quit-worrying-stop-being-so-indecisive-and/) [Wanda E. Brunstetter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-e-brunstetter/) > [With 'Words, Words, Words,' that show was me experimenting with something, and then there was a clear direction for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/with-words-words-words-that-show-was-me-experimenting-with-something/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [“Leadership is about focus and concentrations. To be in focus, choose a clear direction. To concentrate, remain in that direction!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/leadership-is-about-focus-and-concentrations-to-be-in-focus-choose-a/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I think as a company, if you can get two things right--having a clear direction on what you are trying to do and bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/i-think-as-a-company-if-you-can-get-two-things-right-having-a-clear/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [After PyeongChang and after the tours, I was searching for different fulfillment. And then when my fiancee walked into my life, it became clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-moir/after-pyeongchang-and-after-the-tours-i-was-searching-for-different/) [Scott Moir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-moir/) > [“what makes the great motivators so, well, motivating is their ability to help others find their own personal motivation every day. It is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-taylor/what-makes-the-great-motivators-so-well-motivating-is-their-ability/) Jim Taylor > [“One of the mistakes we make in handling God’s Word is that we reduce it to a set of directions on how to live.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-s-lane/one-of-the-mistakes-we-make-in-handling-god-s-word-is-that-we-reduce/) [Timothy S. Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-s-lane/) [Browse all 27 Clear direction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear-direction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't bring on the design engineers too soon. 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