Communicate Quote by Donald A. Norman
“Design is really an act of communication, which means having a deep understanding of the person with whom the designer is communicating.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Design of Everyday Things, 2013
Effective design requires deep empathy and understanding of the user’s perspective.
In simple terms: Design needs user empathy.
Key Takeaway
Design with empathy.
Themes
design
communication
empathy
Mood
analytical
practical
Type
theory
guideline
When to use this quote
- product development
- UX research
- interface design
Key Concepts
Human‑centered design
cognitive psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you learn about user needs?
- What methods ensure true understanding?
A Different Perspective
Empathy alone may not solve technical constraints.
![“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)
