Design Quote by Donald A. Norman
“Any time you see signs or labels added to a device, it is an indication of bad design: a simple lock should not require instructions.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Design of Everyday Things, 1988
Design should be intuitive; adding labels to simple devices signals unnecessary complexity.
In simple terms: Simple devices need no instructions.
Key Takeaway
Design for intuitive use.
Themes
design
usability
human factors
Mood
frustrated
critical
Type
observational
practical
When to use this quote
- product design
- user manuals
- consumer electronics
Key Concepts
affordance
cognitive load
error prevention
Questions to Reflect On
- How could the design be made self‑explanatory?
- When are labels actually helpful?
A Different Perspective
Labels may be required for safety or regulatory reasons.
![“Hypertext makes a virtue out of lack of organization, allowing ideas and thoughts to be juxtaposed at will. [...] The advent of hypertext is apt to make writing much more difficult, not easier. Good writing, that is.” quote by Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/662/donald-a-norman-6862_advent_hypertext-makes-a-virtue-out-of-lack-of_51804.jpg)
