Signs Quote by Donald A. Norman
““Whenever you see hand-lettered signs pasted on doors, switches, or products, trying to explain how to work them, what to do and what not to do, you are also looking at poor design.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Design of Everyday Things, 1988
Poor design is revealed by confusing instructions on everyday objects, indicating a lack of user‑centered thinking.
In simple terms: Bad instructions show bad design.
Key Takeaway
Design for clarity and usability.
Themes
design
usability
communication
Mood
frustrated
critical
Type
observational
educational
When to use this quote
- product packaging
- software UI
- home appliances
- instruction manuals
Key Concepts
human‑centered design
affordances
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you test if instructions truly help users?
- What design changes would make this product intuitive?
A Different Perspective
Even clear signs can be ignored if users lack motivation.
![“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)
