--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first thing you need to make clear to…" description: "\"The first thing you need to make clear to a client is that you aren't there to answer his wants but to answer his needs.\" — Massimo Vignelli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/massimo-vignelli-13401_answers_the-first-thing-you-need-to-make-clear-t_1221816.png" --- # The first thing you need to make clear to a client is that… ![“The first thing you need to make clear to a client is that you aren't there to answer his wants but to answer his needs.” quote by Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/massimo-vignelli-13401_answers_the-first-thing-you-need-to-make-clear-t_1221816.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/massimo-vignelli-13401_answers_the-first-thing-you-need-to-make-clear-t_1221816.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/massimo-vignelli-13401_answers_the-first-thing-you-need-to-make-clear-t_1221816.png) > “The first thing you need to make clear to a client is that you aren't there to answer his wants but to answer his needs.” [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote emphasizes that designers should prioritize client needs over superficial desires, focusing on functional solutions. **In simple terms:** Design for needs, not wants. Key Takeaway Ask what problem truly needs solving. Themes design client relations needs assessment functionality communication Mood practical direct strategic Type business design consulting When to use this quote - product development - branding - UX research - consulting Key Concepts human-centered design problem solving service orientation Questions to Reflect On - What hidden need might your client have? - How can you uncover true requirements? A Different Perspective Clients may not articulate their real needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [It is better to starve than get a bad client.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/it-is-better-to-starve-than-get-a-bad-client/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [Every time someone asks me who I want to work with, my answer is always the same: whoever wants to work with me that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cakes-da-killa/every-time-someone-asks-me-who-i-want-to-work-with-my-answer-is/) [Cakes da killa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cakes-da-killa/) > [If some woman tells me how she feels about something, my immediate assumption is that she wants an answer, or that she wants me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-ward/if-some-woman-tells-me-how-she-feels-about-something-my-immediate/) [Fred Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-ward/) > [“Why #1: Why would Julie want to use email? Answer: So she can send and receive messages. Why #2: Why would she want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nir-eyal/why-1-why-would-julie-want-to-use-email-answer-so-she-can-send-and/) [Nir Eyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nir-eyal/) > [Enterprise is hard work. You have to integrate the client with the optimized systems of all the servers and software.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-j-palmisano/enterprise-is-hard-work-you-have-to-integrate-the-client-with-the/) [Samuel J. Palmisano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-j-palmisano/) > [Find a client and get a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/find-a-client-and-get-a-job/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [“Create events that will forever subsist in the memory of your clients.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utibe-samuel-mbom/create-events-that-will-forever-subsist-in-the-memory-of-your-clients/) [Utibe Samuel Mbom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/utibe-samuel-mbom/) > [The emotional attachment you get with a client or the music fan allows you access to do a lot of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/the-emotional-attachment-you-get-with-a-client-or-the-music-fan/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [When we meet, I'm interested and I'm curious about what he's doing because he's burning a number from a client. And I'm like, 'Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosario-dawson/when-we-meet-i-m-interested-and-i-m-curious-about-what-he-s-doing/) [Rosario Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosario-dawson/) > [Do what the client wants, not what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-erwitt/do-what-the-client-wants-not-what-you-want/) [Elliott Erwitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-erwitt/) > [I spent more than ten years working on the Neues Museum. It was a wonderful experience, an example of real collaboration between architects, conservationists,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chipperfield/i-spent-more-than-ten-years-working-on-the-neues-museum-it-was-a/) [David Chipperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chipperfield/) > [Don't hang up until the client either buys or dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-belfort/don-t-hang-up-until-the-client-either-buys-or-dies/) [Jordan Belfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-belfort/) > [“With warm pleasantries, strangers become clients. With firm handshakes, contracts become signed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utibe-samuel-mbom/with-warm-pleasantries-strangers-become-clients-with-firm-handshakes/) [Utibe Samuel Mbom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/utibe-samuel-mbom/) > [It is the client who knows what hurts, what directions to go, what problems are crucial, what experiences have been deeply buried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rogers/it-is-the-client-who-knows-what-hurts-what-directions-to-go-what/) [Carl Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rogers/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) ## More by Massimo Vignelli > [The computer is really like a pencil, you know. It used to be. The pencil can do anything you want to, but you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/the-computer-is-really-like-a-pencil-you-know-it-used-to-be-the/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [Graphic Design is the communication of information in an appropriate visual manner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/graphic-design-is-the-communication-of-information-in-an-appropriate/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [I'm not a designer, I'm a sifter. I can sift everything, all the time. My sift level lines keep shaking all the time for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/i-m-not-a-designer-i-m-a-sifter-i-can-sift-everything-all-the-time-my/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [If you can design one thing, you can design everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/if-you-can-design-one-thing-you-can-design-everything/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [The scale relates to everything. The thickness of a pipe, the thickness of a leg of the furniture. Even color could have a scale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/the-scale-relates-to-everything-the-thickness-of-a-pipe-the-thickness/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [You can reach timelessness if you look for the essence of things and not the appearance. The appearance is transitory — the appearance is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/you-can-reach-timelessness-if-you-look-for-the-essence-of-things-and/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [I started very early. I started to be interested in design when I was 14 years old, basically, and before I was just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/i-started-very-early-i-started-to-be-interested-in-design-when-i-was/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [Good design is ubiquitous and forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/good-design-is-ubiquitous-and-forever/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [One life is too short for doing everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/one-life-is-too-short-for-doing-everything/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [It’s not important to develop your own style but your own approach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/it-s-not-important-to-develop-your-own-style-but-your-own-approach/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [If you paint a building shocking pink, that has no scale, it is just a huge mistake, but it's not in the scale of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/if-you-paint-a-building-shocking-pink-that-has-no-scale-it-is-just-a/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [If you do it right, it will last forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/if-you-do-it-right-it-will-last-forever/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [In design, be logical, search for truth, be clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/in-design-be-logical-search-for-truth-be-clear/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [There is no design without discipline. There is no discipline without intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/there-is-no-design-without-discipline-there-is-no-discipline-without/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [I don't think that type should be expressive at all. I can write the word 'dog' with any typeface and it doesn't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/i-don-t-think-that-type-should-be-expressive-at-all-i-can-write-the/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) [Explore all 50 Massimo Vignelli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The first thing you need to make clear to a client is that you aren't there to answer his wants but to answer his needs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Massimo Vignelli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/the-first-thing-you-need-to-make-clear-to-a-client-is-that-you-aren-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Answers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/the-first-thing-you-need-to-make-clear-to-a-client-is-that-you-aren-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/massimo-vignelli-13401_answers_the-first-thing-you-need-to-make-clear-t_1221816.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/massimo-vignelli-13401_answers_the-first-thing-you-need-to-make-clear-t_1221816.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/massimo-vignelli-13401_answers_the-first-thing-you-need-to-make-clear-t_1221816.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The first thing you need to make clear to a client is that you aren't there to answer his wants but to…” — Massimo Vignelli", "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": "Massimo Vignelli", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The first thing you need to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/the-first-thing-you-need-to-make-clear-to-a-client-is-that-you-aren-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/the-first-thing-you-need-to-make-clear-to-a-client-is-that-you-aren-t/#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 } } ] } ```