--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you think good design is expensive…" description: "\"If you think good design is expensive, you should look at the cost of bad design.\" — Ralf Speth" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22c/ralf-speth-271314_cost_if-you-think-good-design-is-expensive-yo_81146.png" --- # If you think good design is expensive, you should look at… ![“If you think good design is expensive, you should look at the cost of bad design.” quote by Ralf Speth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22c/ralf-speth-271314_cost_if-you-think-good-design-is-expensive-yo_81146.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22c/ralf-speth-271314_cost_if-you-think-good-design-is-expensive-yo_81146.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22c/ralf-speth-271314_cost_if-you-think-good-design-is-expensive-yo_81146.png) > “If you think good design is expensive, you should look at the cost of bad design.” Ralf Speth ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Investing in good design saves money long‑term, as poor design costs more to fix. **In simple terms:** Good design reduces future costs. Key Takeaway Prioritize quality design. Themes design cost efficiency quality investment Mood pragmatic cautious Type advice business When to use this quote - product development - budget planning Key Concepts economics engineering product lifecycle Questions to Reflect On - How do you evaluate design quality early? - What are hidden costs of bad design? A Different Perspective Design excellence is hard to measure upfront. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Good design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-design/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Think good design is expensive? 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It is, in effect, conditioned to prefer bad design, because that is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rand/the-public-is-more-familiar-with-bad-design-than-good-design-it-is-in/) [Paul Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rand/) > [Good design doesn't date. Bad design does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rand/good-design-doesn-t-date-bad-design-does/) [Paul Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rand/) > [It's easy to design expensive products. But there's that product democracy that I believe very strongly in to make something affordable for almost anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-mangano/it-s-easy-to-design-expensive-products-but-there-s-that-product/) [Joy Mangano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-mangano/) > [In all situations where bad design decisions were made, people lacked some information that would have helped them make the right decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-spool/in-all-situations-where-bad-design-decisions-were-made-people-lacked/) [Jared Spool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-spool/) > [“No. Just no. The hairiness, and the lumpiness, and the great big fumbling fingers and … balls. I mean, balls. What’s that about? 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Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/) > [The great pyramid is overrated. It's a bad design. 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I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) Jessica Yu > [ \[Photography is \] likewise even French impressionists. So the Sculls bought pop. It was politics, and they moved with it. And I think that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/photography-is-likewise-even-french-impressionists-so-the-sculls/) [Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/) > [What has drug addiction done for me? 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