John Maeda Quotes

The defining qualities are about use: ease and simplicity. Caring beyond the functional imperative, we also acknowledge that products have a significance way beyond traditional views of function.

I use Apple because they're easy to understand and everybody gets it.

A well-conceived product excels at what it does. It's close to being functionally flawless - like a Ziploc bag, a radio from Tivoli Audio, a Philips Sonicare toothbrush, a Nespresso coffee maker or Google's home page.

What is so brilliant about the gadgets is their simplicity.

Computers are scary. They're nightmares to fix, lose our stuff, and, on occasion, they crash, producing the blue screen of death. Steve Jobs knew this. He knew that computers were bulky and hernia-inducing and Darth Vader black. He understood the value of declarative design.

One of the problems with computers, particularly for the older people, is they were befuddled by them, and the computers have gotten better. They have gotten easier to use. They have gotten less expensive. The software interfaces have made things a lot more accessible.

Any product that needs a manual to work is broken.

The wonderful thing about Apple technology is just how intuitive it is.

I feel that it's lovely when, as a user, you're not aware of the complexity.

What's great about the iPad and iPhone is that they are easy-on, easy-off.

Good technology is intuitive - the cellphone forces you to become an engineer.

When a device as simple as a door has to come with an instruction manual—even a one-word manual—then it is a failure, poorly designed.

Any time you see signs or labels added to a device, it is an indication of bad design: a simple lock should not require instructions.

The Macintosh was supposed to be the computer for people that just wanted to use a computer without having to learn how to use one.

The easier you make it for people to go, the more likely they are to stay.

Walt loved technology. He didn't understand it half the time, but the beauty of good technology was that he didn't have to understand it. Just use it.

Good design to me is both appearance and functionality together. It's the experience that makes it good design.

The best version of Foursquare is the one you don't think about using.

For many people my software is something that you install and forget. I like to keep it that way.

Design must be functional, and functionality must be translated into visual aesthetics without any reliance on gimmicks that have to be explained.

Users do not care about what is inside the box, as long as the box does what they need done.

There is beauty when something works and it works intuitively.

My goal is to simplify complexity. I just want to build stuff that really simplifies our base human interaction.

Things that are ultimately complex must have a simple end user experience if they are to be successful.

I have the bigger iPad, but the Mini is the best. It just seems perfect. The old one seems so big and heavy. I like simple and clean.