--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It took two years of me telling Canon…" description: "\"It took two years of me telling Canon engineers that a camera is a thing between the human hand and the human eye, so it had to have ergonomics on both..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd8/luigi-colani-27562_eye_it-took-two-years-of-me-telling-canon-en_183994.jpg" --- # It took two years of me telling Canon engineers that a… ![“It took two years of me telling Canon engineers that a camera is a thing between the human hand and the human eye, so it had to have ergonomics on both sides! They got the message, and we did it, and overnight it was the camera of the world. Everyone - Nikon, Yashica, Sony - all copied Colani.” quote by Luigi Colani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd8/luigi-colani-27562_eye_it-took-two-years-of-me-telling-canon-en_183994.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd8/luigi-colani-27562_eye_it-took-two-years-of-me-telling-canon-en_183994.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd8/luigi-colani-27562_eye_it-took-two-years-of-me-telling-canon-en_183994.jpg) > “It took two years of me telling Canon engineers that a camera is a thing between the human hand and the human eye, so it had to have ergonomics on both sides! They got the message, and we did it, and overnight it was the camera of the world. Everyone - Nikon, Yashica, Sony - all copied Colani.” [Luigi Colani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-colani/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The anecdote shows how describing a camera as an extension of human senses convinced engineers to prioritize ergonomics, leading to industry‑wide adoption. **In simple terms:** He convinced engineers that cameras should feel like an extension of the hand and eye. Key Takeaway Design with human interaction at the core. Themes design innovation ergonomics influence Mood inspirational practical Type design leadership When to use this quote - camera design - user experience - industry standards - product launches Key Concepts human‑centered design product development Questions to Reflect On - What other factors should balance ergonomics in design? - How can you test ergonomic concepts early? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on ergonomics may overlook other performance aspects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) [Canon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canon/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [When it comes to the camera, I can do my thing. But I'm bashful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-strahan/when-it-comes-to-the-camera-i-can-do-my-thing-but-i-m-bashful/) [Michael Strahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-strahan/) > [The best camera in the world is one's eyes and the best photos are MEMORIES.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-camera-in-the-world-is-one-s-eyes-and-the-best-photos-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Writing is like a camera. You see the world from a different lens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ahanes/writing-is-like-a-camera-you-see-the-world-from-a-different-lens/) Robert Ahanes > [Look, I really do not care about you. What I care about is the worlds that you bear witness to. You are nothing more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lesy/look-i-really-do-not-care-about-you-what-i-care-about-is-the-worlds/) [Michael Lesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lesy/) > [I was a loser, a bad kid, I wasn't really into anything, and then someone gave me a camera and I found that this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-klein/i-was-a-loser-a-bad-kid-i-wasn-t-really-into-anything-and-then/) [Steven Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-klein/) > [Suddenly this camera, this thing, allowed me to move around the world in a certain kind of way, with a certain kind of purpose.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-mae-weems/suddenly-this-camera-this-thing-allowed-me-to-move-around-the-world/) [Carrie Mae Weems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-mae-weems/) > [Tak Fujimoto and I, when we started getting enough of a budget where we could afford the right lenses - 'cause we started out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-demme/tak-fujimoto-and-i-when-we-started-getting-enough-of-a-budget-where/) [Jonathan Demme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-demme/) > [I took a break from theater after 'The Cripple of Inishmaan' to make some money, to be honest, and also to feel more confident…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-greene/i-took-a-break-from-theater-after-the-cripple-of-inishmaan-to-make/) [Sarah Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-greene/) > [Canon law itself says for one case of guilt, a priest can be dismissed from the clerical state. One.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/canon-law-itself-says-for-one-case-of-guilt-a-priest-can-be-dismissed/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) > [Kant regards the universalizability test for maxims as focused on a very special sort of situation: one where the agent is tempted to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/kant-regards-the-universalizability-test-for-maxims-as-focused-on-a/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [In aesthetic theory it might be extremely difficult, if not quite impracticable, to draw a line between the canon of classicism, or regard for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/in-aesthetic-theory-it-might-be-extremely-difficult-if-not-quite/) [Thorstein Veblen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/) > [I don't really have a favorite camera. I use a Leica and Canon a lot. It depends, especially professionally, on the requirements. But my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-erwitt/i-don-t-really-have-a-favorite-camera-i-use-a-leica-and-canon-a-lot/) [Elliott Erwitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-erwitt/) > [Now, occultism is not like mystic faculty, and it very seldom works in harmony either with business aptitude in the things of ordinary life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-waite/now-occultism-is-not-like-mystic-faculty-and-it-very-seldom-works-in/) [A. E. Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-waite/) > [“I am not a photographer , I am a canon owner !!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walaa-walkademagmal/i-am-not-a-photographer-i-am-a-canon-owner/) Walaa Walkademagmal > [“I don’t know how I feel about a canon anymore ... The sheer volume of books that exist out there means that a canon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/i-don-t-know-how-i-feel-about-a-canon-anymore-the-sheer-volume-of/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) ## More by Luigi Colani > [An architect has to build the building from the inside out, not the outside in!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-colani/an-architect-has-to-build-the-building-from-the-inside-out-not-the/) [Luigi Colani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-colani/) > [The thing is, 75 percent of design today is absolutely outdated. It all has to be redesigned with the materials and knowledge that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-colani/the-thing-is-75-percent-of-design-today-is-absolutely-outdated-it-all/) [Luigi Colani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-colani/) > [Everybody was inspired by the drawings and the wind tunnels and the race cars - but no one wanted to work with me because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-colani/everybody-was-inspired-by-the-drawings-and-the-wind-tunnels-and-the/) [Luigi Colani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-colani/) > [You see, if you are 30 years ahead of your time, you will always have difficulty speaking with the bosses in the industry. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-colani/you-see-if-you-are-30-years-ahead-of-your-time-you-will-always-have/) [Luigi Colani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-colani/) > [I learned to ask myself questions like: Why is something made the way it is? Why does a motorcar look like it does? Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-colani/i-learned-to-ask-myself-questions-like-why-is-something-made-the-way/) [Luigi Colani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-colani/) > [If I had been president, I would have come out and declared: "Nothing there, ever! This place stays as it is. We make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-colani/if-i-had-been-president-i-would-have-come-out-and-declared-nothing/) [Luigi Colani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-colani/) > [It isn't easy for me to have contact with the industry, because it is so outdated. Look at General Motors, look at -Mercedes, look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-colani/it-isn-t-easy-for-me-to-have-contact-with-the-industry-because-it-is/) [Luigi Colani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-colani/) > [America is very conservative. It is not a very modern country. If you look at the population, they are very serious, very nice, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-colani/america-is-very-conservative-it-is-not-a-very-modern-country-if-you/) [Luigi Colani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-colani/) > [I consider myself a 3-D philosopher. I am not a designer at all. I studied aerodynamics, I studied philosophy, I studied sculpture. High technology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-colani/i-consider-myself-a-3-d-philosopher-i-am-not-a-designer-at-all-i/) [Luigi Colani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-colani/) > [The earth is round, all the heavenly bodies are round; they all move on round or elliptical orbits. This same image of circular globe-shaped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-colani/the-earth-is-round-all-the-heavenly-bodies-are-round-they-all-move-on/) [Luigi Colani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-colani/) > [Everybody in Germany was for the -German cause. But then, after the war ended, when I heard the first Glenn Miller sound on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-colani/everybody-in-germany-was-for-the-german-cause-but-then-after-the-war/) [Luigi Colani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-colani/) > [China came from a communist dictatorship of the ugliest kind to become a country which today has a smiling population. Things are getting better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-colani/china-came-from-a-communist-dictatorship-of-the-ugliest-kind-to/) [Luigi Colani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-colani/) > [Look at nature - look at birds, look at fish. Things that look good, work good. People don't get the message of ergonomics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-colani/look-at-nature-look-at-birds-look-at-fish-things-that-look-good-work/) [Luigi Colani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-colani/) > [1973 was the first gasoline crisis in the world. That year, I designed the first aerodynamic truck, eating 40 percent less fuel. I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-colani/1973-was-the-first-gasoline-crisis-in-the-world-that-year-i-designed/) [Luigi Colani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-colani/) > [Well, sex is life. You know, if you don't do it anymore, you can take a spoon and go into the woods and dig…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-colani/well-sex-is-life-you-know-if-you-don-t-do-it-anymore-you-can-take-a/) [Luigi Colani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-colani/) [Explore all 20 Luigi Colani quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-colani/) ## More Camera quotes > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/i-have-a-way-to-photograph-you-work-with-space-you-have-a-camera-you/) [Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [When I made my debut as an actor in 'Rock On!' I was confident to get in front of the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farhan-akhtar/when-i-made-my-debut-as-an-actor-in-rock-on-i-was-confident-to-get-in/) [Farhan Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farhan-akhtar/) > [Since a camera is something too heavy for women and initially made for men, you need a good cameraman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitra-farahani/since-a-camera-is-something-too-heavy-for-women-and-initially-made/) Mitra Farahani > [To be honest, I don't know... something about the camera like turns me into such a diva. Like when it's on and I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bretman-rock/to-be-honest-i-don-t-know-something-about-the-camera-like-turns-me/) [Bretman Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bretman-rock/) > [When the camera is on, I am an actor; otherwise, I am an ordinary person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-patekar/when-the-camera-is-on-i-am-an-actor-otherwise-i-am-an-ordinary-person/) [Nana Patekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-patekar/) > [“A camera is an opening in a box: that is the best emblem of the fact that a camera holding an object is holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-cavell/a-camera-is-an-opening-in-a-box-that-is-the-best-emblem-of-the-fact/) [Stanley Cavell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-cavell/) > [It's such a weird thing, because you have a whole crew of people standing over there, on the other side. There's a camera pointing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/it-s-such-a-weird-thing-because-you-have-a-whole-crew-of-people/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [“The camera lets me see things in a different way. It's like I finally have perspective. I can't always say stuff right in words.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-cook/the-camera-lets-me-see-things-in-a-different-way-it-s-like-i-finally/) [Eileen Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-cook/) > [I was so green, and my background was mostly in theater. The only thing I'd done in front of a camera, besides an infomercial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-britton/i-was-so-green-and-my-background-was-mostly-in-theater-the-only-thing/) [Connie Britton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-britton/) > [As far as lighting and blocking, camera angles and facial expressions, all that stuff that has to be very specific in film, as opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-torres/as-far-as-lighting-and-blocking-camera-angles-and-facial-expressions/) [Eve Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-torres/) > [It is the photographer, not the camera, that is the instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-photographer-not-the-camera-that-is-the-instrument/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't like to move the camera that much anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-tucci/i-don-t-like-to-move-the-camera-that-much-anyway/) [Stanley Tucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-tucci/) > [I feel like 'Preacher's Daughter' was my Trojan horse, in a way. I'm excited to pull back, be behind the camera instead of in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-feel-like-preacher-s-daughter-was-my-trojan-horse-in-a-way-i-m/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) [Browse all 2,026 Camera quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It took two years of me telling Canon engineers that a camera is a thing between the human hand and the human eye, so it had to have ergonomics on both sides! They got the message, and we did it, and overnight it was the camera of the world. 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