--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I really don't over-theorize about…" description: "\"I really don't over-theorize about design. I'd rather feel it than talk it to death. A lot happens as you unroll the design.\" — Colleen Atwood" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/colleen-atwood-9721_about_i-really-don-t-over-theorize-about-desig_726117.png" --- # I really don't over-theorize about design. I'd rather feel… ![“I really don't over-theorize about design. I'd rather feel it than talk it to death. A lot happens as you unroll the design.” quote by Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/colleen-atwood-9721_about_i-really-don-t-over-theorize-about-desig_726117.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/colleen-atwood-9721_about_i-really-don-t-over-theorize-about-desig_726117.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/colleen-atwood-9721_about_i-really-don-t-over-theorize-about-desig_726117.png) > “I really don't over-theorize about design. I'd rather feel it than talk it to death. A lot happens as you unroll the design.” [Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Design is best understood through experience, not endless analysis; letting the work unfold reveals its truth. **In simple terms:** Feel design rather than over‑analyze it. Key Takeaway Trust intuition, act, and observe. Themes design intuition process experience creation Mood reflective creative pragmatic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - product development - graphic design - fashion design - architecture - software UI Key Concepts embodied cognition design thinking iteration Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance analysis with feeling? - When does analysis become harmful? A Different Perspective Over‑analysis can stall progress and mute creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Design Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design-feel-2320627/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Happens Unroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens-unroll-5696309/) [Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot/) [Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rather/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talk/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Theorize Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theorize-design-5696307/) [Unroll Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unroll-design-5696308/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [You do design because you feel it inside; you have a moral issue to spread quality in our environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/you-do-design-because-you-feel-it-inside-you-have-a-moral-issue-to/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [The very best design, I feel, is that which resonates so deeply that people can't help but discover something within themselves when they see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-wanders/the-very-best-design-i-feel-is-that-which-resonates-so-deeply-that/) [Marcel Wanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-wanders/) > [I'm definitely not good at architecture or design, but I feel like I have people in my life who give me helpful tips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-sennott/i-m-definitely-not-good-at-architecture-or-design-but-i-feel-like-i/) [Rachel Sennott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-sennott/) > [I'd wish for my work to be remembered rather than myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-d-wish-for-my-work-to-be-remembered-rather-than-myself/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [When I'm working in finite serials, I always think in terms of the entire book rather than the individual episode because, by far, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/when-i-m-working-in-finite-serials-i-always-think-in-terms-of-the/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [I know what my causes are. And I care about them, so I'd rather get out there and talk about them than just play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adwoa-aboah/i-know-what-my-causes-are-and-i-care-about-them-so-i-d-rather-get-out/) [Adwoa Aboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adwoa-aboah/) > [I think if you're too embroiled in the need to relate too closely to the character, then you start to judge the character for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-think-if-you-re-too-embroiled-in-the-need-to-relate-too-closely-to/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [I'd like to say that I'm a rock star, but I'm not - I'm honestly more of a relationship kind of guy. I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sheeran/i-d-like-to-say-that-i-m-a-rock-star-but-i-m-not-i-m-honestly-more-of/) [Ed Sheeran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sheeran/) > [There is no other person on the face of this planet that I would rather sit and talk to than my wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-aames/there-is-no-other-person-on-the-face-of-this-planet-that-i-would/) [Willie Aames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-aames/) > [It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/it-is-true-that-from-a-behavioral-economics-perspective-we-are/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Your job as a writer is to find storylines, narrative structures, and characters to show the things that you believe rather than saying them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/your-job-as-a-writer-is-to-find-storylines-narrative-structures-and/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [You have to talk about why things happened the way they did. You can't actually explain my political life except by a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lange/you-have-to-talk-about-why-things-happened-the-way-they-did-you-can-t/) [David Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lange/) > [I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent than in the extent of my powers and dominion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) ## More by Colleen Atwood > [Chicago is partly a fairy tale because it's inside one person's head, so that part of it's made up and the rest of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/chicago-is-partly-a-fairy-tale-because-it-s-inside-one-person-s-head/) [Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/) > [I think a lot of young girls go through that period in their life of finding who they are, and at that point, looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/i-think-a-lot-of-young-girls-go-through-that-period-in-their-life-of/) [Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/) > [I always carry pictures of my children and grandchildren, which is what makes it all worthwhile. It's great fun that my grandkids get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/i-always-carry-pictures-of-my-children-and-grandchildren-which-is/) [Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/) > [The designs were based on quite a lot of research of what a movie musical is, filtered through the eyes of today. If we'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/the-designs-were-based-on-quite-a-lot-of-research-of-what-a-movie/) [Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/) > [Sometimes you have dreams about the day or something like that. But, for the story, it's just present and what you have left ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/sometimes-you-have-dreams-about-the-day-or-something-like-that-but/) [Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/) > [I can create clothes for so many different time periods. I've always tried to avoid being pigeonholed. Plus, everything I learn about design and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/i-can-create-clothes-for-so-many-different-time-periods-i-ve-always/) [Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/) > [I choose colors I like and will photograph well. I don't do color theory!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/i-choose-colors-i-like-and-will-photograph-well-i-don-t-do-color/) [Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/) > [I always have a moment when I know I'm designing the last costume that gets made for a movie, and it's always been floating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/i-always-have-a-moment-when-i-know-i-m-designing-the-last-costume/) [Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/) > [It's true that I'm not cozy. I'm more reserved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/it-s-true-that-i-m-not-cozy-i-m-more-reserved/) [Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/) > [I grew up in a small town in Washington State, so I wasn't really aware of costume design as a career growing up, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/i-grew-up-in-a-small-town-in-washington-state-so-i-wasn-t-really/) [Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/) > [It's fun conjuring what people will be wearing in the future. We exist in this world today, and yet there are people walking around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/it-s-fun-conjuring-what-people-will-be-wearing-in-the-future-we-exist/) [Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/) > [I get more distracted by hair or a really bad wig than I do costumes any day of the week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/i-get-more-distracted-by-hair-or-a-really-bad-wig-than-i-do-costumes/) [Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/) > [As a designer, you have to solve a lot of problems. Even though people are wearing clothes that are supposed to look beautiful, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/as-a-designer-you-have-to-solve-a-lot-of-problems-even-though-people/) [Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/) > [Each simian had a much different body suit, so besides trying to define class across species, there was a definite attempt to dress each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/each-simian-had-a-much-different-body-suit-so-besides-trying-to/) [Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/) > [I'd seen the current stage production and the 1975 production of Chicago. I liked them both very much, but I didn't use them necessarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/i-d-seen-the-current-stage-production-and-the-1975-production-of/) [Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/) [Explore all 70 Colleen Atwood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) [Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I really don't over-theorize about design. I'd rather feel it than talk it to death. A lot happens as you unroll the design.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Colleen Atwood" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/i-really-don-t-over-theorize-about-design-i-d-rather-feel-it-than/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/i-really-don-t-over-theorize-about-design-i-d-rather-feel-it-than/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/colleen-atwood-9721_about_i-really-don-t-over-theorize-about-desig_726117.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/colleen-atwood-9721_about_i-really-don-t-over-theorize-about-desig_726117.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/colleen-atwood-9721_about_i-really-don-t-over-theorize-about-desig_726117.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I really don't over-theorize about design. I'd rather feel it than talk it to death. A lot happens as you…” — Colleen Atwood", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Colleen Atwood", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I really don't over-theorize about design....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/i-really-don-t-over-theorize-about-design-i-d-rather-feel-it-than/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/i-really-don-t-over-theorize-about-design-i-d-rather-feel-it-than/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```