--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The job of the designer is to make things…" description: "\"The job of the designer is to make things understandable, usable, accessible, enjoyable... important to a public, that involves the public.\" — Paula Scher" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/paula-scher-7840_design_the-job-of-the-designer-is-to-make-thing_1006843.png" --- # The job of the designer is to make things understandable… ![“The job of the designer is to make things understandable, usable, accessible, enjoyable... important to a public, that involves the public.” quote by Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/paula-scher-7840_design_the-job-of-the-designer-is-to-make-thing_1006843.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/paula-scher-7840_design_the-job-of-the-designer-is-to-make-thing_1006843.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/paula-scher-7840_design_the-job-of-the-designer-is-to-make-thing_1006843.png) > “The job of the designer is to make things understandable, usable, accessible, enjoyable... important to a public, that involves the public.” [Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Design should be clear, functional, enjoyable, and serve the public, involving them in its purpose. **In simple terms:** Design must be understandable, usable, enjoyable, and public‑focused. Key Takeaway Create user‑centered, accessible designs. Themes design usability public service Mood creative analytical Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - website redesign - public signage - app UI - community projects Key Concepts human‑centered design accessibility communication Questions to Reflect On - How do you involve users in design? - What makes a design enjoyable? A Different Perspective Balancing aesthetics with accessibility can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Designer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/designer/) [Designer Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/designer-make-2161113/) [Enjoyable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyable/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important Public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-public-2029123/) [Involves Public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involves-public-2161115/) [Job Designer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job-designer-2161114/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a designer. I make clothes and bags and shoes. I have a job that involves making creative choices, but I'm not a divinely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-jacobs/i-m-a-designer-i-make-clothes-and-bags-and-shoes-i-have-a-job-that/) [Marc Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-jacobs/) > [My job as a designer is to make a woman feel her very best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-renta/my-job-as-a-designer-is-to-make-a-woman-feel-her-very-best/) [Oscar de la Renta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-renta/) > [We don't do focus groups - that is the job of the designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/we-don-t-do-focus-groups-that-is-the-job-of-the-designer/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [My job as a designer is to look into the future. Not to use any frame of reference that exists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-newson/my-job-as-a-designer-is-to-look-into-the-future-not-to-use-any-frame/) [Marc Newson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-newson/) > [It's really important to me that the public have confidence in their criminal justice system. We don't operate very well if the public doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-yates/it-s-really-important-to-me-that-the-public-have-confidence-in-their/) [Sally Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-yates/) > [Our most important public service will always be the NHS. And I want to say something clear and unambiguous about the future of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/our-most-important-public-service-will-always-be-the-nhs-and-i-want/) [Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/) > [In any election, it's important that the public perceive that the election is held fairly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi-rubin/in-any-election-it-s-important-that-the-public-perceive-that-the/) [Avi Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi-rubin/) > [I think it is important that the public record of anyone being considered for key public appointments is scrutinised. That is the role of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/i-think-it-is-important-that-the-public-record-of-anyone-being/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [It's so important to that we go into the public schools and we feed all of the kids something that is really good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/it-s-so-important-to-that-we-go-into-the-public-schools-and-we-feed/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [In my view, a huge portion of WikiLeaks's activities has nothing to do with legitimate newsgathering, informing the public, commenting on important public controversies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-comey/in-my-view-a-huge-portion-of-wikileaks-s-activities-has-nothing-to-do/) [James Comey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-comey/) > [It's important for the public to know that Chris Collins has the overwhelming support of his district.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caputo/it-s-important-for-the-public-to-know-that-chris-collins-has-the/) [Michael Caputo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caputo/) > [As attorney general, Ive had some connection with just about every important public issue in the last eight years in Kentucky. All of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-chandler/as-attorney-general-ive-had-some-connection-with-just-about-every/) [Ben Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-chandler/) > [Who I am as a father is far more important to me than the public perception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-willis/who-i-am-as-a-father-is-far-more-important-to-me-than-the-public/) [Bruce Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-willis/) > [I think it's important for the public to know, great reporting starts with a publisher who has guts and an editor who has guts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/i-think-it-s-important-for-the-public-to-know-great-reporting-starts/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [Private lives are more important than public reputations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/private-lives-are-more-important-than-public-reputations/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) ## More by Paula Scher > [Your work gets destroyed by dumb people and it gets enhanced by smart people and it really doesn't have anything to do with marketing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/your-work-gets-destroyed-by-dumb-people-and-it-gets-enhanced-by-smart/) [Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) > [What makes me say "wow" is usually something I haven't encountered, in a new way... something I haven't encountered before or something I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/what-makes-me-say-wow-is-usually-something-i-haven-t-encountered-in-a/) [Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) > [I find that I'm at my least creative point when I am doing something that I've done in repetition and I know all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/i-find-that-i-m-at-my-least-creative-point-when-i-am-doing-something/) [Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) > [I think Apple is a wonderful example of spectacular marketing and I love having my iPod. There are the naysayers who say that "nyah,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/i-think-apple-is-a-wonderful-example-of-spectacular-marketing-and-i/) [Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) > [I've become much more interested in architecture than I've ever been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/i-ve-become-much-more-interested-in-architecture-than-i-ve-ever-been/) [Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) > [Some people are in stultifying environments where there are rigid rules and rituals and they need that to thrive, where other people are just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/some-people-are-in-stultifying-environments-where-there-are-rigid/) [Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) > [Planning is design. As a designer what I tend to do, and what's different from being a painter, is that I interact with other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/planning-is-design-as-a-designer-what-i-tend-to-do-and-what-s/) [Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) > [Great design is serious, not solemn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/great-design-is-serious-not-solemn/) [Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) > [I love that the level of mediocrity rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/i-love-that-the-level-of-mediocrity-rises/) [Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) > [Words have meaning, type has spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/words-have-meaning-type-has-spirit/) [Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) > [Beige is the color of indecision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/beige-is-the-color-of-indecision/) [Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) > [To me what really matters is that it shouldn't matter to you what day of the week it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/to-me-what-really-matters-is-that-it-shouldn-t-matter-to-you-what-day/) [Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) > [If people that made products didn't market them and sell them we'd have no economy and nobody would be working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/if-people-that-made-products-didn-t-market-them-and-sell-them-we-d/) [Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) > [Planning involves considering how other people may use something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/planning-involves-considering-how-other-people-may-use-something/) [Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) > [I'm most proud of the fact that I get to keep growing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/i-m-most-proud-of-the-fact-that-i-get-to-keep-growing/) [Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) [Explore all 87 Paula Scher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) ## More Design quotes > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Plenty of white space and generous line spacing,and don't make the type size too miserly. Then you will be assured of a product fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giambattista-bodoni/plenty-of-white-space-and-generous-line-spacing-and-don-t-make-the/) [Giambattista Bodoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giambattista-bodoni/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [The market may never coalesce around one basic design, or even around two or three dominant devices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/the-market-may-never-coalesce-around-one-basic-design-or-even-around/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [The display is the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hsun-huang/the-display-is-the-computer/) [Jen-Hsun Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-hsun-huang/) > [Design is not making beauty, beauty emerges from selection, affinities, integration, love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/design-is-not-making-beauty-beauty-emerges-from-selection-affinities/) [Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) > [The beauty of New York is unintentional; it arose independent of human design, like a stalagmite cavern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-beauty-of-new-york-is-unintentional-it-arose-independent-of-human/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [I design some of my own clothes now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiernan-shipka/i-design-some-of-my-own-clothes-now/) [Kiernan Shipka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiernan-shipka/) > [Programmers are always surrounded by complexity; we cannot avoid it… If our basic tool, the language in which we design and code our programs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hoare/programmers-are-always-surrounded-by-complexity-we-cannot-avoid-it-if/) [Tony Hoare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hoare/) > [Design is a very personal thing. It's like art. Your personal choice plays a big role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gauri-khan/design-is-a-very-personal-thing-it-s-like-art-your-personal-choice/) [Gauri Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gauri-khan/) > [“Designing posters, for me, is not only a commercial pursuit but also a philosophical endeavor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fang-chen/designing-posters-for-me-is-not-only-a-commercial-pursuit-but-also-a/) [Fang Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fang-chen/) > [I am not a great believer in dialectical struggle. I am much more of a fusion person. I see it as a dialogue, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-warner/i-am-not-a-great-believer-in-dialectical-struggle-i-am-much-more-of-a/) [Marina Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-warner/) > [Users are not designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-nielsen/users-are-not-designers/) [Jakob Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-nielsen/) > [I write the way you might arrange flowers. Not every try works, but each one launches another. Every constraint, even dullness, frees up a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/i-write-the-way-you-might-arrange-flowers-not-every-try-works-but/) [Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/) [Browse all 5,563 Design quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The job of the designer is to make things understandable, usable, accessible, enjoyable... important to a public, that involves the public.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paula Scher" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/the-job-of-the-designer-is-to-make-things-understandable-usable/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Design" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/the-job-of-the-designer-is-to-make-things-understandable-usable/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/paula-scher-7840_design_the-job-of-the-designer-is-to-make-thing_1006843.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/paula-scher-7840_design_the-job-of-the-designer-is-to-make-thing_1006843.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/paula-scher-7840_design_the-job-of-the-designer-is-to-make-thing_1006843.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The job of the designer is to make things understandable, usable, accessible, enjoyable... important to a…” — Paula Scher", "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": "Paula Scher", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The job of the designer is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/the-job-of-the-designer-is-to-make-things-understandable-usable/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/the-job-of-the-designer-is-to-make-things-understandable-usable/#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 } } ] } ```