Arbitrary Quote by Donald A. Norman
“When you have trouble with things—whether it's figuring out whether to push or pull a door or the arbitrary vagaries of the modern computer and electronics industries—it's not your fault. Don't blame yourself: blame the designer.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Design of Everyday Things, 2013
When technology fails, blame the designer, not the user; design should be intuitive.
In simple terms: Design flaws, not user error.
Key Takeaway
Demand better design.
Themes
design
usability
technology
Mood
practical
analytical
Type
design
technical
When to use this quote
- product development
- UI/UX design
- consumer education
Key Concepts
human‑centered design
error prevention
Questions to Reflect On
- What design changes would improve usability?
- How can users give feedback to designers?
A Different Perspective
Designers may overlook diverse user needs.
![“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)
