---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Any time you see signs or labels added to…"
description: "\"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.\" — Donald A. Norman"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/donald-a-norman-6862_design_any-time-you-see-signs-or-labels-added-t_379949.jpg"
---

#  Any time you see signs or labels added to a device, it is…

![“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.” quote by Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/donald-a-norman-6862_design_any-time-you-see-signs-or-labels-added-t_379949.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/donald-a-norman-6862_design_any-time-you-see-signs-or-labels-added-t_379949.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/donald-a-norman-6862_design_any-time-you-see-signs-or-labels-added-t_379949.jpg)

> “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.”

[Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

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.

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[Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Labels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labels/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

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