--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing to do, then, is to describe…" description: "\"“The thing to do, then, is to describe what the user does from the beginning to the end of their experience, remembering that it’s the user’s actions y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/073/giles-colborne-23036_quote_the-thing-to-do-then-is-to-describe-what_1257104.jpg" --- # The thing to do, then, is to describe what the user does… ![“The thing to do, then, is to describe what the user does from the beginning to the end of their experience, remembering that it’s the user’s actions you’re most interested in, not the thing you’re designing.” quote by Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/073/giles-colborne-23036_quote_the-thing-to-do-then-is-to-describe-what_1257104.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/073/giles-colborne-23036_quote_the-thing-to-do-then-is-to-describe-what_1257104.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/073/giles-colborne-23036_quote_the-thing-to-do-then-is-to-describe-what_1257104.jpg) > ““The thing to do, then, is to describe what the user does from the beginning to the end of their experience, remembering that it’s the user’s actions you’re most interested in, not the thing you’re designing.”” [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focus on describing the user's actions throughout their experience rather than the design details. **In simple terms:** Describe user actions, not design. Key Takeaway Observe and map user behavior. Themes user‑centered design experience mapping interaction design Mood analytical reflective Type instructional practical When to use this quote - product design - web navigation - mobile app onboarding - service interaction Key Concepts Human‑computer interaction behavioral analysis Questions to Reflect On - How can you capture hidden user motivations? - What steps reveal the most friction? A Different Perspective May overlook the role of system constraints that shape user actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Your soul is Me, and it knows it. What it is doing, is trying to experience that. 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It only means that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/simplicity-does-not-mean-want-or-poverty-it-does-not-mean-the-absence/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“It’s been pointed out that products that start out simple often end up getting so complex they cease to be useful. 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Watching people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/visiting-users-in-their-workplaces-was-vital-if-we-d-simply-imagined/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“Increasing complexity is unsustainable”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/increasing-complexity-is-unsustainable/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“Wizards promise to make things simple by breaking them down into steps. The problem is they take control away from the user. Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/wizards-promise-to-make-things-simple-by-breaking-them-down-into/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“The quick and dirty way is to write down a one-line description, in the simplest terms possible, of what I’m creating, along with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/the-quick-and-dirty-way-is-to-write-down-a-one-line-description-in/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“Your design shouldn’t interfere with this sense of control. It should extend it. Simple experiences make users confident that they’re making good choices. Simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/your-design-shouldn-t-interfere-with-this-sense-of-control-it-should/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“The better and longer way is to describe the experience I want the users to have. That means describing the users’ world and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/the-better-and-longer-way-is-to-describe-the-experience-i-want-the/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“People love simple, dependable, adaptable products.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/people-love-simple-dependable-adaptable-products/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“Repeatedly asking “so what” eventually throws up an emotional need, a rational need, and a solution. It also helps you arrive at a deeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/repeatedly-asking-so-what-eventually-throws-up-an-emotional-need-a/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) [Explore all 26 Giles Colborne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) ## More Thing User quotes > [There is no such thing as "the user". 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