Computers Quote by Tibor Kalman
““We live in a society and a culture and an economic model that tries to make everything look right. Look at computers. Why are they all putty-colored or off-fucking-white? You make something off-white or beige because you are afraid to use any other color – because you don’t want to offend anybody. But by definition, when you make something no one hates, no one loves it. So I am interested in imperfections, quirkiness, insanity, unpredictability. That’s what we really pay attention to anyway. We don’t talk about planes flying; we talk about them crashing.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Design Philosophy, 1998
Societal pressure for neutral design suppresses uniqueness; embracing flaws and unpredictability creates interest.
In simple terms: Embrace imperfections over blandness.
Key Takeaway
Celebrate quirks and unpredictability.
Themes
design
culture
imperfection
creativity
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- product design
- branding
- art direction
- marketing strategy
Key Concepts
Aesthetic theory
consumer psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can flaws attract attention?
- When is predictability beneficial?
A Different Perspective
Risk of alienating mainstream tastes.
