“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”

— Steve Jobs

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“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”

(February 24 , 1955 -- October 5 , 2011)
Origin: American
Meaning
This quote redefines design from a purely aesthetic concern to a functional and structural one, emphasizing that true quality lies in the underlying utility of a product. It provides a strategic insight for creators, suggesting that beauty without utility is superficial and ultimately fails the user. In the modern world of software and hardware development, this principle is the foundation of user experience (UX) and human-centered design. Designers and engineers share this quote to advocate for a deeper integration of form and function in everything from apps to architecture. Steve Jobs applied this rigorous standard to every Apple product, from the internal circuitry of the Mac to the glass of the iPhone, believing that the invisible parts must be as well-designed as the visible ones. It offers practical advice to focus on solving problems for the user rather than just creating a visually appealing facade. This mindset lesson shifts the focus from decoration to the delivery of meaningful value through thoughtful engineering.
Steve Jobs
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Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs was an American entrepreneur and inventor. Their most powerful quotes on life, success and human nature are collected here for daily inspiration and reflection.

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This quote is attributed to Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs was an American entrepreneur and inventor. Their most powerful quotes on life, success and human nature are collected here for daily inspiration and…

This quote redefines design from a purely aesthetic concern to a functional and structural one, emphasizing that true quality lies in the underlying utility of a product. It provides a strategic insight for creators, suggesting that beauty without utility is superficial and ultimately fails the user. In the modern world of software and hardware development, this principle is the foundation…

The wording and attribution are documented at en.wikiquote.org. Use the original source linked on this page to verify the exact phrasing and context.

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