Design Quote by Oliver Reichenstein
““Learning to design is, first of all, learning to see. Designers see more, and more precisely. This is a blessing and a curse — once we have learned to see design, both good and bad, we cannot un-see. The downside is that the more you learn to see, the more you lose your ‘common’ eye, the eye you design for. This can be frustrating for us designers when we work for a customer with a bad eye and strong opinions. But this is no justification for designer arrogance or eye-rolling. Part of our job is to make the invisible visible, to clearly express what we see, feel and do. You can‘t expect to sell what you can’t explain.””
About This Quote
Source Article: Design Thinking, 2021
Explains that learning to see design deeply enhances perception but can alienate designers from common viewpoints.
In simple terms: Seeing design clearly can both help and hinder.
Key Takeaway
Balance expert insight with user perspective.
Themes
design
perception
communication
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
practical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- client meetings
- design reviews
- user testing
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
visual literacy
cognitive bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How can designers stay grounded?
- What methods keep design accessible?
A Different Perspective
Risk of designer arrogance and disconnect.
![“Perhaps this is why The Boeing Company, one of the largest airplane design and engineering firms in the world, keeps a black book of lessons it has learned from design and engineering failures.[4] Boeing has kept this document since the company was formed, and it uses it to help modern designers…” quote by Scott Berkun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b87/scott-berkun-12409_quote_perhaps-this-is-why-the-boeing-company-o_1819992.jpg)
