A Norman Thought for Monday

Posted on Sep 8, 2009 in Design, Opinions, Thoughts

The iconic Donald Norman teapot illustration.

“I prefer design by experts — by people who know what they are doing.”
— Donald Norman

Crowd-sourcing your corporate identity. Spec work for pitches. Blind contests for Web site redesigns.

As commerce tries desperately to convert design into a commodity, it’s critical to realize that great design — game-shifting design — will never result from such enterprises. Now, as always, great design comes from experts, people with an authoritative and comprehensive knowledge not just of their trade, but of the challenges faced by their clients.

A good designer isn’t an aesthete or artiste or, worse, a Mac monkey. A good designer is an expert thinker, one who is not only versed in tools and techniques, but in human behavior. The great designer is as much a thinker as a doer, and they are as excited by an intellectual challenge as an aesthetic one.

4 Comments

  1. Julie
    8 September , 2009

    Apropos of nothing, we had to go all the way to London to find a decent teapot. Meaning a teapot that was well-balanced and did not drip. The teacups in this country generally suck too. As does the tea. What were you saying?

    Reply
    • Michael McWatters
      8 September , 2009

      Funny you mention it. We recently bought a name-brand teapot from Target, and it’s terrible. Worst among its flaws is the fact that the handle becomes scalding hot once the water boils. How did they fail to test for that flaw? (And why didn’t we return it?!)

      Reply
      • Julie
        9 September , 2009

        I think you mean tea kettle. This alone may explain the problems with tea in this country. ;)

        Reply
        • Michael McWatters
          9 September , 2009

          I never knew there was a difference between a kettle and a pot. Now I do! The question is, does Michael Graves?

          Reply

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