--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: With the early prototypes, I held the…" description: "\"With the early prototypes, I held the phone to my ear and my ear [would] dial the number. You have to detect all sorts of ear-shapes and chin shapes, s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/jonathan-ive-3015_chins_with-the-early-prototypes-i-held-the-pho_909561.jpg" --- # With the early prototypes, I held the phone to my ear and… ![“With the early prototypes, I held the phone to my ear and my ear [would] dial the number. You have to detect all sorts of ear-shapes and chin shapes, skin colour and hairdo... that was one of just many examples where we really thought, perhaps this isn’t going to work.” quote by Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/jonathan-ive-3015_chins_with-the-early-prototypes-i-held-the-pho_909561.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/jonathan-ive-3015_chins_with-the-early-prototypes-i-held-the-pho_909561.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/jonathan-ive-3015_chins_with-the-early-prototypes-i-held-the-pho_909561.jpg) > “With the early prototypes, I held the phone to my ear and my ear \[would\] dial the number. You have to detect all sorts of ear-shapes and chin shapes, skin colour and hairdo... that was one of just many examples where we really thought, perhaps this isn’t going to work.” [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early prototypes revealed unexpected user‑device interactions, prompting doubts about practicality. **In simple terms:** Early designs showed unexpected issues, causing skepticism. Key Takeaway Validate concepts with real users early. Themes design human‑centered technology Mood curious reflective Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - product development - consumer electronics - usability testing Key Concepts ergonomics user testing prototype iteration Questions to Reflect On - How can we better anticipate user behavior? - What testing methods reduce surprise? A Different Perspective User habits may differ from expectations, limiting adoption. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chins/) [Colour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colour/) [Ear Dial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ear-dial-1319493/) [Ear Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ear-shapes-1319492/) [Early Prototypes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early-prototypes-1319491/) [Ears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears/) [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [Going to work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-to-work/) [Hairdos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hairdos/) [Held Phone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/held-phone-1319494/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Phone Ear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phone-ear-1319495/) [Phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phones/) [Prototype](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prototype/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Skins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skins/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [“I hurled myself under the covers, naked and half wet, grabbing my phone on the way. - don't come nevermind - I heard a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-reiss/i-hurled-myself-under-the-covers-naked-and-half-wet-grabbing-my-phone/) [C.D. Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-reiss/) > [“I am on my way, and tell him he better watch his ass!” Jack shouted, and I held the phone away from ear so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/i-am-on-my-way-and-tell-him-he-better-watch-his-ass-jack-shouted-and/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [“Okay, now you really don’t need to do that blushing virgin bit anymore—I got to ogle your body at my leisure for hours. Matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/okay-now-you-really-don-t-need-to-do-that-blushing-virgin-bit-anymore/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [“Georgie took out her phone. 'I want to take a picture of you two.' She held up her phone and motioned for us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-eulberg/georgie-took-out-her-phone-i-want-to-take-a-picture-of-you-two-she/) [Elizabeth Eulberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-eulberg/) > [It is a truth universally acknowledged that a thirty-something woman in possession of a satisfying career and fabulous hairdo must be in want of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/it-is-a-truth-universally-acknowledged-that-a-thirty-something-woman/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [On my wedding day. I didn't want a natural, blushing-bride look - I had a full-on hairdo and red lips. I thought it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/on-my-wedding-day-i-didn-t-want-a-natural-blushing-bride-look-i-had-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some of my biggest complaints about acting in television were that I was always wearing a tight dress or pencil skirt, and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trieste-kelly-dunn/some-of-my-biggest-complaints-about-acting-in-television-were-that-i/) [Trieste Kelly Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trieste-kelly-dunn/) > [He also didn't like a lock of my hair and said that he couldn't get into the moment without the hair being just right.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-stowe/he-also-didn-t-like-a-lock-of-my-hair-and-said-that-he-couldn-t-get/) [Madeleine Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-stowe/) > [In Hollywood a girl's virtue is much less important than her hairdo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/in-hollywood-a-girl-s-virtue-is-much-less-important-than-her-hairdo/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [I'm a child of the downloading age. I remember when I was 10, a friend who went to the same school as me came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-styrke/i-m-a-child-of-the-downloading-age-i-remember-when-i-was-10-a-friend/) [Tove Styrke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-styrke/) > [I Swear My Pillow could be a hairstylist, cos I always wake up with the wierdest hairdos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles/i-swear-my-pillow-could-be-a-hairstylist-cos-i-always-wake-up-with/) [Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles/) > [Around '62 in Baltimore, all the girls had those big hairdos. And then suddenly, a few of the really hip ones started doing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/around-62-in-baltimore-all-the-girls-had-those-big-hairdos-and-then/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [If for no other reason than it's just fun to watch people age, and it's fun to watch what happened to '80s hairdos and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-borstein/if-for-no-other-reason-than-it-s-just-fun-to-watch-people-age-and-it/) [Alex Borstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-borstein/) > [I've had a lot of tragic hairdos and outfits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-minogue/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-tragic-hairdos-and-outfits/) [Kylie Minogue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-minogue/) > [I was nineteen and I put a bowl on and I said, Cut around! Because it was not the fashion at the time when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-was-nineteen-and-i-put-a-bowl-on-and-i-said-cut-around-because-it/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) ## More by Jonathan Ive > [My father was a very good craftsman. He made furniture, he made silverware and he had an incredible gift in terms of how you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/my-father-was-a-very-good-craftsman-he-made-furniture-he-made/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [The more I learnt about this cheeky - almost rebellious - company, the more it appealed to me, as it unapologetically pointed to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/the-more-i-learnt-about-this-cheeky-almost-rebellious-company-the/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [To design something really new and innovative you have to reject reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/to-design-something-really-new-and-innovative-you-have-to-reject/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [The most important thing is that you actually care, that you do something to the very best of your ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/the-most-important-thing-is-that-you-actually-care-that-you-do/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [We’re surrounded by anonymous, poorly made objects. It’s tempting to think it’s because the people who use them don’t care-just like the people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/we-re-surrounded-by-anonymous-poorly-made-objects-it-s-tempting-to/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [And I said couldn't we be more moderate? And he said why? And I said because I care about the team. And he said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/and-i-said-couldn-t-we-be-more-moderate-and-he-said-why-and-i-said/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [The absence of clutter is just a clutter-free product. That's not simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/the-absence-of-clutter-is-just-a-clutter-free-product-that-s-not/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [In our quest to quickly make three-dimensional objects, we can miss out on the experience of making something that helps give us our first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/in-our-quest-to-quickly-make-three-dimensional-objects-we-can-miss/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [A beautiful product that doesn't work very well is ugly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/a-beautiful-product-that-doesn-t-work-very-well-is-ugly/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [We don't do focus groups - that is the job of the designer. It's unfair to ask people who don't have a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/we-don-t-do-focus-groups-that-is-the-job-of-the-designer-it-s-unfair/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [I am very aware that I'm the product of growing up in England and the tradition of designing and making, of England industrialising first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/i-am-very-aware-that-i-m-the-product-of-growing-up-in-england-and-the/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [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/) > [We won't do something different for different's sake. Designers cave in to marketing, to the corporate agenda, which is sort of, 'Oh, it looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/we-won-t-do-something-different-for-different-s-sake-designers-cave/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [As a kid, I remember taking apart whatever I could get my hands on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/as-a-kid-i-remember-taking-apart-whatever-i-could-get-my-hands-on/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [I find that when I write, I need things to be quiet, but when I design, I can't bear it if it's quiet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/i-find-that-when-i-write-i-need-things-to-be-quiet-but-when-i-design/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) [Explore all 142 Jonathan Ive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) ## More Chins quotes > [“He blinked. His eyes fell as he processed her response. Then he lifted his chin and attempted a grin that was almost painfully dejected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/he-blinked-his-eyes-fell-as-he-processed-her-response-then-he-lifted/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [God, his chin. She wanted to make an honest woman of his chin. She wanted to lock it down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/god-his-chin-she-wanted-to-make-an-honest-woman-of-his-chin-she/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [You're crazy. You're impossible.' 'I'm crazy?' He tipped my chin up and planted a quick, rough kiss on my mouth. 'And I must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/you-re-crazy-you-re-impossible-i-m-crazy-he-tipped-my-chin-up-and/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [The man without a chin, no stamina, dead man, broken man, whatever. On your way to the top, you always get some criticism. Criticism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wladimir-klitschko/the-man-without-a-chin-no-stamina-dead-man-broken-man-whatever-on/) [Wladimir Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wladimir-klitschko/) > [My chin is weak. I find it hard to make decisions. For years I had been caught between the two stools of security on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-kavanagh/my-chin-is-weak-i-find-it-hard-to-make-decisions-for-years-i-had-been/) [Patrick Kavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-kavanagh/) > [It really costs me a lot emotionally to watch myself on-screen. I think of myself, and feel like I'm quite young, and then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-hackman/it-really-costs-me-a-lot-emotionally-to-watch-myself-on-screen-i/) [Gene Hackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-hackman/) > [When did they start coming after you?” “Was it—was it after the oil- slick Hummer crash?” the Gasman asked Iggy tentatively. My eyes widened.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/when-did-they-start-coming-after-you-was-it-was-it-after-the-oil/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [He tapped my chest. 'Happy is here.' He tapped his own chest. 'Here.' I looked down past my chin. 'Inside?' 'Inside.' It was getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/he-tapped-my-chest-happy-is-here-he-tapped-his-own-chest-here-i/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [I think what all actors share is that, somewhere down in your solar plexus, there's this fear that you're not going to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/i-think-what-all-actors-share-is-that-somewhere-down-in-your-solar/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [It has been my unbroken policy not to see newspaper writers or give interviews to anyone. At the word interview spoken or written my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-coolidge/it-has-been-my-unbroken-policy-not-to-see-newspaper-writers-or-give/) [Grace Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-coolidge/) > [Just draw on your grit; it's so easy to quit - It's the keeping your chin up that's hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-service/just-draw-on-your-grit-it-s-so-easy-to-quit-it-s-the-keeping-your/) [Robert W. Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) > [Nice costume," he said. "Ditto. I can tell you put alot of though into yours." Amusement curled his mouth. "If you don't like it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/nice-costume-he-said-ditto-i-can-tell-you-put-alot-of-though-into/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [I had fun last night," I told Patch, flicking off my chin strap and handing over my helmet. "I'm officially on love with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/i-had-fun-last-night-i-told-patch-flicking-off-my-chin-strap-and/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [The one thing I would like to get across about my whole feeling regarding high school is how I was when I was fifteen.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/the-one-thing-i-would-like-to-get-across-about-my-whole-feeling/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [The only one," he murmured. His chin dipped a little bit. "You know that, Dru? You're the only person who's ever believed in me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilith-saintcrow/the-only-one-he-murmured-his-chin-dipped-a-little-bit-you-know-that/) [Lilith Saintcrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilith-saintcrow/) [Browse all 296 Chins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chins/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "With the early prototypes, I held the phone to my ear and my ear [would] dial the number. 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