--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am a thorn in the side of designers." description: "\"I am a thorn in the side of designers.\" — Robin Givhan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/332/robin-givhan-36427_designer_i-am-a-thorn-in-the-side-of-designers-15_1560450.png" --- # I am a thorn in the side of designers. ![“I am a thorn in the side of designers.” quote by Robin Givhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/332/robin-givhan-36427_designer_i-am-a-thorn-in-the-side-of-designers-15_1560450.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/332/robin-givhan-36427_designer_i-am-a-thorn-in-the-side-of-designers-15_1560450.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/332/robin-givhan-36427_designer_i-am-a-thorn-in-the-side-of-designers-15_1560450.png) > “I am a thorn in the side of designers.” [Robin Givhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-givhan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. I challenge conventional design norms, causing discomfort to those accustomed to the status quo. **In simple terms:** I provoke designers to rethink their assumptions. Key Takeaway Embrace critique to drive innovation. Themes design critique innovation Mood provocative reflective Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - product development - branding - user experience - creative workshops Key Concepts cognitive dissonance creative tension Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn discomfort into productive dialogue? - What assumptions are you defending without questioning? A Different Perspective Not all pushback is constructive; it may alienate collaborators. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Designers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/designers/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [Users are not designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-nielsen/users-are-not-designers/) [Jakob Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-nielsen/) > [I've always worked closely with the designers and whoever's making the costumes. Comfort is the last thing you want on your mind when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-yamaguchi/i-ve-always-worked-closely-with-the-designers-and-whoever-s-making/) [Kristi Yamaguchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-yamaguchi/) > [People always think that designers hate each other. And we're certainly a competitive lot, but we also enjoy each other's company. No one else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kors/people-always-think-that-designers-hate-each-other-and-we-re/) [Michael Kors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kors/) > [I want to try and wear as many Australian designers as I can because I'd like to support my Australian colleagues in the industry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-fry/i-want-to-try-and-wear-as-many-australian-designers-as-i-can-because/) [Lucy Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-fry/) > [I like stuff designed by dead people. The old designers. They always got it right because they didn't have to grow up with computers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maeda/i-like-stuff-designed-by-dead-people-the-old-designers-they-always/) [John Maeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maeda/) > [In New York there are between four and six big designers, and the shows last one week. There is something wrong here. It's our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franca-sozzani/in-new-york-there-are-between-four-and-six-big-designers-and-the/) [Franca Sozzani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franca-sozzani/) > [I'm always interested in collaborating with designers. I love Gaultier. I know that's kind of a high hope!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-love/i-m-always-interested-in-collaborating-with-designers-i-love-gaultier/) [Pamela Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-love/) > [We designers have been working to stimulate people's souls and minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naoto-fukasawa/we-designers-have-been-working-to-stimulate-people-s-souls-and-minds/) [Naoto Fukasawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naoto-fukasawa/) > [Couture has copied my things for years, in addition to countless other costume designers, claiming theirs were the original ideas. It's all part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-head/couture-has-copied-my-things-for-years-in-addition-to-countless-other/) [Edith Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-head/) > [You don't need money to look fabulous. There are so many awesome new designers, so many designers doing collections for mass retailers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-london/you-don-t-need-money-to-look-fabulous-there-are-so-many-awesome-new/) [Stacy London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-london/) > [Designers may be the true intellectuals of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paola-antonelli/designers-may-be-the-true-intellectuals-of-the-future/) [Paola Antonelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paola-antonelli/) > [I'm always telling young designers to take the time to surround themselves with women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azzedine-alaia/i-m-always-telling-young-designers-to-take-the-time-to-surround/) [Azzedine Alaia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azzedine-alaia/) > [Design is too important to be left to designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-loewy/design-is-too-important-to-be-left-to-designers/) [Raymond Loewy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-loewy/) > [Design is all about relationships. Unfortunately, many designers don’t fully appreciate this. Some of the best design work I’ve ever done was drinking coffee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-burka/design-is-all-about-relationships-unfortunately-many-designers-don-t/) Daniel Burka > [Designer's derive their rewards from 'inner standards of excellence, from the intrinsic satisfaction of their tasks. They are committed to the task, not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-toffler/designer-s-derive-their-rewards-from-inner-standards-of-excellence/) [Alvin Toffler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-toffler/) ## More by Robin Givhan > [Clothes are incredibly symbolic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-givhan/clothes-are-incredibly-symbolic/) [Robin Givhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-givhan/) > [ Over the course of the years, I've learned \[that\] fashion is a fascinating business about selling magic. It is done on the backs of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-givhan/over-the-course-of-the-years-i-ve-learned-that-fashion-is-a/) [Robin Givhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-givhan/) > [Avoiding the appearance of queenly behavior is politically wise. But it does American culture no favors if a first lady tries so hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-givhan/avoiding-the-appearance-of-queenly-behavior-is-politically-wise-but/) [Robin Givhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-givhan/) > [I'm not a vintage/thrift shop girl. I don't have the patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-givhan/i-m-not-a-vintage-thrift-shop-girl-i-don-t-have-the-patience/) [Robin Givhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-givhan/) > [I like some of the oversized silhouettes. It's a nice change and exudes ease. Also like the upmarket street wear. 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Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-givhan/i-do-think-younger-women-have-to-figure-out-how-to-combine-their-own/) [Robin Givhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-givhan/) > [I hate yoga pants anywhere but the gym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-givhan/i-hate-yoga-pants-anywhere-but-the-gym/) [Robin Givhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-givhan/) > [Because what the fashion industry loves, it woos - then swallows whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-givhan/because-what-the-fashion-industry-loves-it-woos-then-swallows-whole/) [Robin Givhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-givhan/) > [How much of fashion is fueled by insecurity - for better or worse?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-givhan/how-much-of-fashion-is-fueled-by-insecurity-for-better-or-worse/) [Robin Givhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-givhan/) > [There is nothing "useful" about fashion, which is why it is fashion and not clothes. My personal opinion about the runway is that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-givhan/there-is-nothing-useful-about-fashion-which-is-why-it-is-fashion-and/) [Robin Givhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-givhan/) > [Sometimes those who bloom too early fade fast. Michael Kors struggled for years - and endured bankruptcy - before he became all rich and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-givhan/sometimes-those-who-bloom-too-early-fade-fast-michael-kors-struggled/) [Robin Givhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-givhan/) > [I get enough fashion news in my professional life. I like interiors during my downtime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-givhan/i-get-enough-fashion-news-in-my-professional-life-i-like-interiors/) [Robin Givhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-givhan/) [Explore all 13 Robin Givhan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-givhan/) ## More Designer quotes > [I am very sad that some designers are still using real fur when the fake alternatives are so effective and so easily obtainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twiggy/i-am-very-sad-that-some-designers-are-still-using-real-fur-when-the/) [Twiggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twiggy/) > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [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/) > [When other boys dreamt of going to the moon or becoming doctors, I wanted to be a designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-theyskens/when-other-boys-dreamt-of-going-to-the-moon-or-becoming-doctors-i/) [Olivier Theyskens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-theyskens/) > [I talk to fashion designers and say I want some money to save the rainforest, and they say, 'Oh, I agree with you completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/i-talk-to-fashion-designers-and-say-i-want-some-money-to-save-the/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [Under Thatcher, who ruled us with an iron rod, great art was made. Amazing designers and musicians. Acid house was born. Very colourful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/under-thatcher-who-ruled-us-with-an-iron-rod-great-art-was-made/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [Users are not designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-nielsen/users-are-not-designers/) [Jakob Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-nielsen/) > [MAC allowed me to have complete freedom on the collaborations—from the shades, the look-and-feel, to the campaign visuals. I have to admit that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-treacy/mac-allowed-me-to-have-complete-freedom-on-the-collaborations-from/) [Philip Treacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-treacy/) > [As a designer, I believe in the power of fashion. It has the ability to not only change how you look but also how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-knowles/as-a-designer-i-believe-in-the-power-of-fashion-it-has-the-ability-to/) [Tina Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-knowles/) > [I love Christopher Bailey and Burberry, Mulberry for bags, and Hudson for jeans. I like a little bit of designer with a bit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-delevingne/i-love-christopher-bailey-and-burberry-mulberry-for-bags-and-hudson/) [Cara Delevingne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-delevingne/) > [I don't think generally speaking, there are a lot of innovators and inventors. Many of the designers take what exists already and update it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/i-don-t-think-generally-speaking-there-are-a-lot-of-innovators-and/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) > [As a designer, everything is always about aesthetics mixed in with functionality and having that visual appeal. But you learn fast as a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/as-a-designer-everything-is-always-about-aesthetics-mixed-in-with/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [The creatives, they want to connect with people. These artists, the clothing designers, they want to connect with people the same way that music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/the-creatives-they-want-to-connect-with-people-these-artists-the/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [If you want to live a meaningfully better life, you're going to have to make the dangerous choice to dissent. A life lived meaningfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/if-you-want-to-live-a-meaningfully-better-life-you-re-going-to-have/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) Browse all 1,412 Designer quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am a thorn in the side of designers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robin Givhan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-givhan/i-am-a-thorn-in-the-side-of-designers/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Designer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-givhan/i-am-a-thorn-in-the-side-of-designers/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/332/robin-givhan-36427_designer_i-am-a-thorn-in-the-side-of-designers-15_1560450.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/332/robin-givhan-36427_designer_i-am-a-thorn-in-the-side-of-designers-15_1560450.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/332/robin-givhan-36427_designer_i-am-a-thorn-in-the-side-of-designers-15_1560450.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am a thorn in the side of designers.” — Robin Givhan", "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": "Robin Givhan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-givhan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I am a thorn in the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-givhan/i-am-a-thorn-in-the-side-of-designers/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-givhan/i-am-a-thorn-in-the-side-of-designers/#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 } } ] } ```