---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The worst thing is to be a designer and…"
description: "\"The worst thing is to be a designer and create work that isn't honest. You have to be honest. Otherwise, you'll always be a reaction to what other peop..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/jason-wu-8513_behinds_the-worst-thing-is-to-be-a-designer-and_3078773.jpg"
---

#  The worst thing is to be a designer and create work that…

![“The worst thing is to be a designer and create work that isn't honest. You have to be honest. Otherwise, you'll always be a reaction to what other people do and you'll always be one step behind.” quote by Jason Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/jason-wu-8513_behinds_the-worst-thing-is-to-be-a-designer-and_3078773.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/jason-wu-8513_behinds_the-worst-thing-is-to-be-a-designer-and_3078773.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/jason-wu-8513_behinds_the-worst-thing-is-to-be-a-designer-and_3078773.jpg)

> “The worst thing is to be a designer and create work that isn't honest. You have to be honest. Otherwise, you'll always be a reaction to what other people do and you'll always be one step behind.”

[Jason Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/)

## About This Quote

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

Design must reflect authenticity; copying others leads to stagnation and loss of relevance.

**In simple terms:** Honest design beats imitation.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize authenticity in creative work.

Themes

authenticity creativity competition

Mood

reflective determined

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- fashion design
- branding
- product development
- artistic projects

Key Concepts

design integrity originality self‑expression

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you ensure your work stays true to your vision?
- What pressures tempt you to follow trends?

A Different Perspective

Being honest can be commercially risky and may limit market trends.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Being honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Worst things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-things/)

## Related quotes

> [It's a very strange thing for a designer to say, but one of the things that really irritates me in products is when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/it-s-a-very-strange-thing-for-a-designer-to-say-but-one-of-the-things/)

[Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/)

> [I like to mix and match vintage with designer. It's how I create my own style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-rae-jepsen/i-like-to-mix-and-match-vintage-with-designer-it-s-how-i-create-my/)

[Carly Rae Jepsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-rae-jepsen/)

> [A good designer can create a design that accommodates all the constraints and still delivers an elegant, satisfying experience to the user. A great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-james-garrett/a-good-designer-can-create-a-design-that-accommodates-all-the/)

[Jesse James Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-james-garrett/)

> [The worst thing that can happen is that the effect that they create behind you is bigger than the performance you're putting out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-hiroyuki-tagawa/the-worst-thing-that-can-happen-is-that-the-effect-that-they-create/)

[Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-hiroyuki-tagawa/)

> [“Bad things are not the worst things that an happen to us. NOTHING is the worst thing that can happen to us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/bad-things-are-not-the-worst-things-that-an-happen-to-us-nothing-is/)

[Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/)

> [All too often the worst thing that can happen to the young is to depoliticize them. When that happens, not only are young people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/all-too-often-the-worst-thing-that-can-happen-to-the-young-is-to/)

[Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/)

> [Losing a basketball game hurts but when you see what you've been through, you look on it and say well if this is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/losing-a-basketball-game-hurts-but-when-you-see-what-you-ve-been/)

[LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/)

> [I've come to understand and to believe that each of us is more than the worst thing we've ever done. I believe that for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-stevenson/i-ve-come-to-understand-and-to-believe-that-each-of-us-is-more-than/)

[Bryan Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-stevenson/)

> [Every interview is as much an impression of the journalist as it is the artist or subject. You look at interviews and you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-hegarty/every-interview-is-as-much-an-impression-of-the-journalist-as-it-is/)

[Antony Hegarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-hegarty/)

> [I always think about the simplest things in a relationship that have frustrated me. It always sort of comes down to communication. Even something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/i-always-think-about-the-simplest-things-in-a-relationship-that-have/)

[Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/)

> [When you get old the worst thing is you lose so many friends. Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra, John Wayne. People who I loved to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/when-you-get-old-the-worst-thing-is-you-lose-so-many-friends-burt/)

[Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/)

> [The worst thing that happens to people when they dress up and go to a party is that they leave their real selves at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/the-worst-thing-that-happens-to-people-when-they-dress-up-and-go-to-a/)

[Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/)

> [Make love to me like you know I am better than the worst thing I ever did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/make-love-to-me-like-you-know-i-am-better-than-the-worst-thing-i-ever/)

[Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/)

> [Worst thing in the world? John is completely out of it. Good luck, ladies. He's a freak!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/worst-thing-in-the-world-john-is-completely-out-of-it-good-luck/)

[Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/)

> [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/)

[Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/)

## More by Jason Wu

> [My Chinese zodiac is a dog. But I'm an exception because of how much I love cats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/my-chinese-zodiac-is-a-dog-but-i-m-an-exception-because-of-how-much-i/)

[Jason Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/)

> [I woke up one day and I was like, "I don't have anything to save for myself for the future." That's when I started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/i-woke-up-one-day-and-i-was-like-i-don-t-have-anything-to-save-for/)

[Jason Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/)

> [A lot happened in Vancouver. It was my first Western experience. I learned English, which is my second language. I became very acquainted with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/a-lot-happened-in-vancouver-it-was-my-first-western-experience-i/)

[Jason Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/)

> [My parents loved me, and I think they realized that I was probably not going to have a normal 9-to-5 job. For the longest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/my-parents-loved-me-and-i-think-they-realized-that-i-was-probably-not/)

[Jason Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/)

> [My cats are really sassy and sophisticated, but most importantly, they are picky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/my-cats-are-really-sassy-and-sophisticated-but-most-importantly-they/)

[Jason Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/)

> [There is always going to be that luxury customer out there. I have clients who buy $10,000 dresses and clients who buy $60 dresses.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/there-is-always-going-to-be-that-luxury-customer-out-there-i-have/)

[Jason Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/)

> [I love the idea of working with women because I always feel like a man designing womenswear needs women around him to really have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/i-love-the-idea-of-working-with-women-because-i-always-feel-like-a/)

[Jason Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/)

> [I worked 10 years as a toy designer before I started my career as a fashion designer. It's something I just fell into and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/i-worked-10-years-as-a-toy-designer-before-i-started-my-career-as-a/)

[Jason Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/)

> [My inspirations come from everywhere. It's important to look at everything and anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/my-inspirations-come-from-everywhere-it-s-important-to-look-at/)

[Jason Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/)

> [I have been wanting to do beauty for years and to pair with an international beauty company. It will solidify the image of Jason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/i-have-been-wanting-to-do-beauty-for-years-and-to-pair-with-an/)

[Jason Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/)

> [I think a beautiful dress on the wrong woman could mean nothing. It has to be the right woman and the right clothes. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/i-think-a-beautiful-dress-on-the-wrong-woman-could-mean-nothing-it/)

[Jason Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/)

> [I don't know if I would want to come back as anything but me. I feel really satisfied. I don't really want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-want-to-come-back-as-anything-but-me-i-feel/)

[Jason Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/)

> [I make very proper clothes. But I was never that person. For a long time, I thought that was the image I needed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/i-make-very-proper-clothes-but-i-was-never-that-person-for-a-long/)

[Jason Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/)

> [The polishedness and the sophistication were what I was interested in. I mean, give me a polka dot, a floral print, a pleated dress,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/the-polishedness-and-the-sophistication-were-what-i-was-interested-in/)

[Jason Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/)

> [I've always loved the rustic, slightly worn style of Canvas and that element of an artisanal hand. It's so inherently chic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/i-ve-always-loved-the-rustic-slightly-worn-style-of-canvas-and-that/)

[Jason Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/)

[Explore all 80 Jason Wu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/)

## More Behinds quotes

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/)

[Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/)

> [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/)

[Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/)

> [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/)

[Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/)

> [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/)

[Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/)

> [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/)

[Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/)

> [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/)

[Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/)

> [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/)

[Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/)

> [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/)

[Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/)

> [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/)

[N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/)

Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The worst thing is to be a designer and create work that isn't honest. You have to be honest. Otherwise, you'll always be a reaction to what other people do and you'll always be one step behind.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jason Wu"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/the-worst-thing-is-to-be-a-designer-and-create-work-that-isn-t-honest/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Behinds"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/the-worst-thing-is-to-be-a-designer-and-create-work-that-isn-t-honest/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/jason-wu-8513_behinds_the-worst-thing-is-to-be-a-designer-and_3078773.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/jason-wu-8513_behinds_the-worst-thing-is-to-be-a-designer-and_3078773.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/jason-wu-8513_behinds_the-worst-thing-is-to-be-a-designer-and_3078773.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The worst thing is to be a designer and create work that isn't honest. You have to be honest. Otherwise…” — Jason Wu",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jason Wu",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The worst thing is to be...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/the-worst-thing-is-to-be-a-designer-and-create-work-that-isn-t-honest/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/the-worst-thing-is-to-be-a-designer-and-create-work-that-isn-t-honest/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
