--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I enjoy the optimism of design, even…" description: "\"I enjoy the optimism of design, even though we can see it as doomed. But I'm telling most people that I'm not writing about design any more this year. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/momus-35148_clean-water_i-enjoy-the-optimism-of-design-even-thou_476412.jpg" --- # I enjoy the optimism of design, even though we can see it… ![“I enjoy the optimism of design, even though we can see it as doomed. But I'm telling most people that I'm not writing about design any more this year. It makes no sense at all during the recession unless you write about sustainable or ethical design-very basic things, like how to get clean water…” quote by Momus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/momus-35148_clean-water_i-enjoy-the-optimism-of-design-even-thou_476412.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/momus-35148_clean-water_i-enjoy-the-optimism-of-design-even-thou_476412.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/momus-35148_clean-water_i-enjoy-the-optimism-of-design-even-thou_476412.jpg) > “I enjoy the optimism of design, even though we can see it as doomed. But I'm telling most people that I'm not writing about design any more this year. It makes no sense at all during the recession unless you write about sustainable or ethical design-very basic things, like how to get clean water in countries with a shortage of it.” [Momus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker values design optimism but sees it as impractical during recession, urging focus on sustainable, ethical design like clean water solutions. **In simple terms:** Optimism in design clashes with economic reality; prioritize essential, sustainable solutions. Key Takeaway Shift design focus to sustainability during crises. Themes design optimism ethics recession sustainability Mood reflective concerned Type philosophical pragmatic When to use this quote - architectural projects - product development - NGO initiatives - public policy - education programs Key Concepts human-centered design ethical responsibility resource scarcity Questions to Reflect On - How can designers balance idealism with real-world constraints? - What sustainable design projects can thrive in recession? A Different Perspective Optimism alone cannot solve systemic problems without practical action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clean water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clean-water/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Water is life, and clean water means health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/water-is-life-and-clean-water-means-health/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [America is a global leader on clean air progress and carbon dioxide reductions, and we are the envy of the world when it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-r-wheeler/america-is-a-global-leader-on-clean-air-progress-and-carbon-dioxide/) [Andrew R. Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-r-wheeler/) > [“I felt a strange twinge of anger looking at the stars. It was as if I’d just learned of an inheritance that had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-ilgunas/i-felt-a-strange-twinge-of-anger-looking-at-the-stars-it-was-as-if-i/) [Ken Ilgunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-ilgunas/) > [“Remember, salt, clean water, honey, and natural oils are vital when it comes to healing yourself when you are faced with tropical hardship— without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-williams/remember-salt-clean-water-honey-and-natural-oils-are-vital-when-it/) [Ronald Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-williams/) > [So many people that I've seen can't get clean water. It's a crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/so-many-people-that-i-ve-seen-can-t-get-clean-water-it-s-a-crime/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [“LOOK AROUND. GAME DEAD, RIVERS BLACK, LAND CHOKED WITH WEED. SKIES BLEEDING, RED AS BLOOD. FOR WHAT? YOUR KIND ARE BLIND. YOU SEE ONLY…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-kristoff/look-around-game-dead-rivers-black-land-choked-with-weed-skies/) [Jay Kristoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-kristoff/) > [Life is a perspective and for me, if a human being has access to school, clean water, food, proper health care, that is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gelila-bekele/life-is-a-perspective-and-for-me-if-a-human-being-has-access-to/) Gelila Bekele > [Clean water, the essence of life and a birthright for everyone, must become available to all people now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-cousteau/clean-water-the-essence-of-life-and-a-birthright-for-everyone-must/) [Jean-Michel Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-cousteau/) > [Why worry about minor little details like clean air, clean water, safe ports and the safety net when Jesus is going to give the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/why-worry-about-minor-little-details-like-clean-air-clean-water-safe/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [The people of Liberia know what it means to be deprived of clean water, but we also know what it means to see our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/the-people-of-liberia-know-what-it-means-to-be-deprived-of-clean/) [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) > [Everyone deserves to have clean water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyjah-huston/everyone-deserves-to-have-clean-water/) [Nyjah Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyjah-huston/) > [Flint's got so many hardworking, good people who just want a fair shake and it starts with making sure their government is responsive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/flint-s-got-so-many-hardworking-good-people-who-just-want-a-fair/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [We're not going to cure terrorism and spread peace and goodwill in the Middle East by killing innocent people, or I'm not even saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/we-re-not-going-to-cure-terrorism-and-spread-peace-and-goodwill-in/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [There is one, and only one solution, and we have almost no time to try it. We must turn all our resources to repairing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mollison/there-is-one-and-only-one-solution-and-we-have-almost-no-time-to-try/) [Bill Mollison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mollison/) > [If you're asking me do we want clean air and clean water? Yes. Do we want a safer climate for future generations of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/if-you-re-asking-me-do-we-want-clean-air-and-clean-water-yes-do-we/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) ## More by Momus > [Maybe it's the Calvinist guilt about capitalism or mercantilism. But, I like the idea of doing things that only exist for as long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momus/maybe-it-s-the-calvinist-guilt-about-capitalism-or-mercantilism-but-i/) [Momus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momus/) > [If you're a poet and you're using rhyme, rhyme generates ideas. If you're a songwriter and you're using melody and words together, they bounce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momus/if-you-re-a-poet-and-you-re-using-rhyme-rhyme-generates-ideas-if-you/) [Momus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momus/) > [Every lie creates a parallel world.. a world in which it is true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momus/every-lie-creates-a-parallel-world-a-world-in-which-it-is-true/) [Momus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momus/) > [Pablo Picasso said, "Art is the lie that tells the truth," and it's not a terribly radical statement. It's always been that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momus/pablo-picasso-said-art-is-the-lie-that-tells-the-truth-and-it-s-not-a/) [Momus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momus/) > [“God is a tender pervert, and the angels are voyeurs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momus/god-is-a-tender-pervert-and-the-angels-are-voyeurs/) [Momus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momus/) > [Design is interesting because it's utopian. Art is often a jaundiced commentary on contemporary life. Design is always about the future; it's always about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momus/design-is-interesting-because-it-s-utopian-art-is-often-a-jaundiced/) [Momus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momus/) > [If you look at the steps being taken towards Scottish independence, they're being dealt with politically in very dull and boring ways. So if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momus/if-you-look-at-the-steps-being-taken-towards-scottish-independence/) [Momus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momus/) > [Quantum physics says that there is an infinite number of possibilities and parallels to the one that we know, and every event is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momus/quantum-physics-says-that-there-is-an-infinite-number-of/) [Momus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momus/) > [Franz Kafka once said that happiness consists in having an ideal and not progressing towards it. If you did progress towards it, you'd be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momus/franz-kafka-once-said-that-happiness-consists-in-having-an-ideal-and/) [Momus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momus/) > [I like the idea of doing things that only exist for as long as they exist, which are not archives, which are not sold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momus/i-like-the-idea-of-doing-things-that-only-exist-for-as-long-as-they/) [Momus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momus/) > [I'm bored with DJs. Anybody that puts the title DJ in front of their name immediately turns me off. I prefer the term "sampling,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momus/i-m-bored-with-djs-anybody-that-puts-the-title-dj-in-front-of-their/) [Momus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momus/) > [When you tell filthy jokes as if they were all really serious, and happening all in the life of one family, it becomes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momus/when-you-tell-filthy-jokes-as-if-they-were-all-really-serious-and/) [Momus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momus/) [Explore all 13 Momus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momus/) ## More Clean water quotes > [Water is life, and clean water means health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/water-is-life-and-clean-water-means-health/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [There is one, and only one solution, and we have almost no time to try it. We must turn all our resources to repairing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mollison/there-is-one-and-only-one-solution-and-we-have-almost-no-time-to-try/) [Bill Mollison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mollison/) > [We're not going to cure terrorism and spread peace and goodwill in the Middle East by killing innocent people, or I'm not even saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/we-re-not-going-to-cure-terrorism-and-spread-peace-and-goodwill-in/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [Flint's got so many hardworking, good people who just want a fair shake and it starts with making sure their government is responsive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/flint-s-got-so-many-hardworking-good-people-who-just-want-a-fair/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [Everyone deserves to have clean water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyjah-huston/everyone-deserves-to-have-clean-water/) [Nyjah Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyjah-huston/) > [The people of Liberia know what it means to be deprived of clean water, but we also know what it means to see our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/the-people-of-liberia-know-what-it-means-to-be-deprived-of-clean/) [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) > [Why worry about minor little details like clean air, clean water, safe ports and the safety net when Jesus is going to give the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/why-worry-about-minor-little-details-like-clean-air-clean-water-safe/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [Clean water, the essence of life and a birthright for everyone, must become available to all people now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-cousteau/clean-water-the-essence-of-life-and-a-birthright-for-everyone-must/) [Jean-Michel Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-cousteau/) > [Life is a perspective and for me, if a human being has access to school, clean water, food, proper health care, that is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gelila-bekele/life-is-a-perspective-and-for-me-if-a-human-being-has-access-to/) Gelila Bekele > [“LOOK AROUND. GAME DEAD, RIVERS BLACK, LAND CHOKED WITH WEED. SKIES BLEEDING, RED AS BLOOD. FOR WHAT? YOUR KIND ARE BLIND. YOU SEE ONLY…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-kristoff/look-around-game-dead-rivers-black-land-choked-with-weed-skies/) [Jay Kristoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-kristoff/) > [So many people that I've seen can't get clean water. It's a crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/so-many-people-that-i-ve-seen-can-t-get-clean-water-it-s-a-crime/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [“Remember, salt, clean water, honey, and natural oils are vital when it comes to healing yourself when you are faced with tropical hardship— without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-williams/remember-salt-clean-water-honey-and-natural-oils-are-vital-when-it/) [Ronald Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-williams/) > [“I felt a strange twinge of anger looking at the stars. It was as if I’d just learned of an inheritance that had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-ilgunas/i-felt-a-strange-twinge-of-anger-looking-at-the-stars-it-was-as-if-i/) [Ken Ilgunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-ilgunas/) > [America is a global leader on clean air progress and carbon dioxide reductions, and we are the envy of the world when it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-r-wheeler/america-is-a-global-leader-on-clean-air-progress-and-carbon-dioxide/) [Andrew R. Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-r-wheeler/) > [If you're asking me do we want clean air and clean water? Yes. Do we want a safer climate for future generations of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/if-you-re-asking-me-do-we-want-clean-air-and-clean-water-yes-do-we/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) [Browse all 236 Clean water quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clean-water/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I enjoy the optimism of design, even though we can see it as doomed. But I'm telling most people that I'm not writing about design any more this year. 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