Apps Quote by Penn Jillette
“Everybody is designing magic iPhone apps that do things that are really, really beautiful, but a really important thing about magic is that the gimmick has to be ugly.”
About This Quote
Source Talk: Magic and Design, Penn Jillette, 2012
Effective magic blends beauty with an underlying ugliness; the trick's flaw is essential to its wonder.
In simple terms: Magic needs an ugly gimmick to be beautiful.
Key Takeaway
Design with purposeful imperfections.
Themes
design
magic
beauty
Mood
creative
analytical
Type
inspirational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- app development
- product design
- stage illusion
- branding
Key Concepts
aesthetics
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can flaws enhance user experience?
- When should you hide imperfections?
A Different Perspective
Too much ugliness can alienate users.
