--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was always my goal to 'up the ante' on…" description: "\"It was always my goal to 'up the ante' on good design, and I've devoted much of my career to this.\" — Michael Graves" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/michael-graves-21551_always_it-was-always-my-goal-to-up-the-ante-on_1813784.png" --- # It was always my goal to 'up the ante' on good design, and… ![“It was always my goal to 'up the ante' on good design, and I've devoted much of my career to this.” quote by Michael Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/michael-graves-21551_always_it-was-always-my-goal-to-up-the-ante-on_1813784.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/michael-graves-21551_always_it-was-always-my-goal-to-up-the-ante-on_1813784.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/michael-graves-21551_always_it-was-always-my-goal-to-up-the-ante-on_1813784.png) > “It was always my goal to 'up the ante' on good design, and I've devoted much of my career to this.” [Michael Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graves/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Continuously raising design standards drives innovation. **In simple terms:** Push design higher. Key Takeaway Strive for better design. Themes design innovation career excellence Mood inspirational professional Type creative professional When to use this quote - product development - design reviews - career planning Key Concepts architecture creative process Questions to Reflect On - How to balance ambition with feasibility? - What defines “good design”? A Different Perspective May neglect practical constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Good design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-design/) ## Related quotes > [It was always my goal to 'up the ante' on good design and rye devoted much of my career to this](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/it-was-always-my-goal-to-up-the-ante-on-good-design-and-rye-devoted/) [Michael Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graves/) > [I devoted my career to building an affinity with my fans who have supported me unflinchingly and no barbed wire fence or prison wall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foxy-brown/i-devoted-my-career-to-building-an-affinity-with-my-fans-who-have/) [Foxy Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foxy-brown/) > [I stayed true to what I thought was good design no matter who it was for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/i-stayed-true-to-what-i-thought-was-good-design-no-matter-who-it-was/) [Michael Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graves/) > [Design means being good, not just looking good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-mok/design-means-being-good-not-just-looking-good/) [Clement Mok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-mok/) > [Design must reflect the practical and aesthetic in business but above all... good design must primarily serve people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-watson/design-must-reflect-the-practical-and-aesthetic-in-business-but-above/) [Thomas J. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-watson/) > [I like stuff designed by dead people. The old designers. They always got it right because they didn't have to grow up with computers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maeda/i-like-stuff-designed-by-dead-people-the-old-designers-they-always/) [John Maeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maeda/) > [The way I look at my job, I spend a lot of time trying to create the conditions for good design to happen and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khoi-vinh/the-way-i-look-at-my-job-i-spend-a-lot-of-time-trying-to-create-the/) [Khoi Vinh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khoi-vinh/) > [Accessible design is good design.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/accessible-design-is-good-design/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [My mantra is: 'Good design accelerates the adoption of new ideas.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/my-mantra-is-good-design-accelerates-the-adoption-of-new-ideas/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [“Good design doesn’t stem from intuition, talent, or luck (although I’ll take a smidgen of each). It comes from research and understanding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/good-design-doesn-t-stem-from-intuition-talent-or-luck-although-i-ll/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think good design is expensive, you should look at the cost of bad design.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralf-speth/if-you-think-good-design-is-expensive-you-should-look-at-the-cost-of/) Ralf Speth > [All conventional wisdom has an element of truth to it, but good design requires more than an element of truth - it requires an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/all-conventional-wisdom-has-an-element-of-truth-to-it-but-good-design/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [“Design is not style. It’s not about giving shape to the shell and not giving a damn about the guts. Good design is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/design-is-not-style-it-s-not-about-giving-shape-to-the-shell-and-not/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [Good design is probably 98% common sense. Above all, an object must function well and efficiently-and getting that part right requires a good deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-conran/good-design-is-probably-98-common-sense-above-all-an-object-must/) [Terence Conran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-conran/) > [Good design encourages a viewer to want to learn more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-isley/good-design-encourages-a-viewer-to-want-to-learn-more/) [Alexander Isley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-isley/) ## More by Michael Graves > [I stayed true to what I thought was good design no matter who it was for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/i-stayed-true-to-what-i-thought-was-good-design-no-matter-who-it-was/) [Michael Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graves/) > [I have no requirements for a style of architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/i-have-no-requirements-for-a-style-of-architecture/) [Michael Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graves/) > [I once got a postcard from a French poet who wrote - "you don't know me but I'm always very grumpy when I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/i-once-got-a-postcard-from-a-french-poet-who-wrote-you-don-t-know-me/) [Michael Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graves/) > [In any architecture, there is an equity between the pragmatic function and the symbolic function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/in-any-architecture-there-is-an-equity-between-the-pragmatic-function/) [Michael Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graves/) > [My favorite is the garlic press. I think it's beautiful as an object. But the awkward part of it all is that I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/my-favorite-is-the-garlic-press-i-think-it-s-beautiful-as-an-object/) [Michael Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graves/) > [I don't care what people call me, labels have the negative value of making smaller boundaries for people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/i-don-t-care-what-people-call-me-labels-have-the-negative-value-of/) [Michael Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graves/) > [Architecture is not all about the design of the building and nothing else, it is also about the cultural setting and the ambience, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/architecture-is-not-all-about-the-design-of-the-building-and-nothing/) [Michael Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graves/) > [In designing hardware to be used every day, it was important to keep both the human aspects and the machine in mind. What looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/in-designing-hardware-to-be-used-every-day-it-was-important-to-keep/) [Michael Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graves/) > [The design of the building addresses the public nature of both the urban context and the internal program. In order to reinforce the building's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/the-design-of-the-building-addresses-the-public-nature-of-both-the/) [Michael Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graves/) > [Alberto Alessi had asked a dozen architects to design a sterling silver tea service - with a teapot, a coffee pot, sugar, creamer, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/alberto-alessi-had-asked-a-dozen-architects-to-design-a-sterling/) [Michael Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graves/) > [“Out of my numerous visits I have made to Catfish Plantation, I never photographed an entity like this. It looks like an angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/out-of-my-numerous-visits-i-have-made-to-catfish-plantation-i-never/) [Michael Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graves/) > [If I have a style, I am not aware of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/if-i-have-a-style-i-am-not-aware-of-it/) [Michael Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graves/) > [“Amply described blowjobs and anal scenes may stigmatise gay writers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/amply-described-blowjobs-and-anal-scenes-may-stigmatise-gay-writers/) [Michael Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graves/) > [My favorite project is always the next one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/my-favorite-project-is-always-the-next-one/) [Michael Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graves/) > [In America, writers are afforded the freedom to express themselves in unlimited manners. Creative liberty is a privilege.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/in-america-writers-are-afforded-the-freedom-to-express-themselves-in/) [Michael Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graves/) [Explore all 29 Michael Graves quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graves/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It was always my goal to 'up the ante' on good design, and I've devoted much of my career to this.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Graves" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/it-was-always-my-goal-to-up-the-ante-on-good-design-and-i-ve-devoted/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/it-was-always-my-goal-to-up-the-ante-on-good-design-and-i-ve-devoted/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/michael-graves-21551_always_it-was-always-my-goal-to-up-the-ante-on_1813784.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/michael-graves-21551_always_it-was-always-my-goal-to-up-the-ante-on_1813784.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/michael-graves-21551_always_it-was-always-my-goal-to-up-the-ante-on_1813784.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It was always my goal to 'up the ante' on good design, and I've devoted much of my career to this.” — Michael Graves", "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": "Michael Graves", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graves/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It was always my goal to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/it-was-always-my-goal-to-up-the-ante-on-good-design-and-i-ve-devoted/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/it-was-always-my-goal-to-up-the-ante-on-good-design-and-i-ve-devoted/#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 } } ] } ```