Marcel Wanders Quotes

If you have to design something, choose things that we need as opposed to frivolous things that we might just want for a month or two for bragging rights.

The meaning or value of a thing consists of what it affords.

A painting doesn't have to have a real usability other than you looking at it. Obviously, a car, an engine, or battery has to fit people's needs.

We need to rediscover the essence of the meaning of 'the use.' Architecture is, above all, here for a better living. Every gesture, every shape must be justified by various reasons that would reinforce their reason to be, their use, and will give more sense to their beauty.

Design is not for philosophy it's for life.

If you don't love something, it's not functional, in my opinion.

Art has to move you and design does not, unless it's a good design for a bus.

The architect should strive continually to simplify; the ensemble of the rooms should then be carefully considered that comfort and utility may go hand in hand with beauty.

I remember someone once said there is a practical aspect to my designs, and I remember thinking, 'That doesn't sound so creative,' but that is actually the truth. There is a practicality to it. I don't design just to design. There is a reason and, hopefully, an interesting reason behind it - that is where my creativity comes in.

For me, cooking is practical. That's the core of an engineer. Engineers are very practical designers and creative people. Every single thing I create has to have a purpose.

Reason is a bee, and exists only on what it makes; his usefulness takes the place of beauty.

To use is necessary. And if you can't be used, then you're useless.

Some are created for beauty, and some for use; and there are some which one can do without altogether.

The beautiful is as useful as the useful." He added after a moment’s silence, "Perhaps more so.

Beauty is as useful as the useful. More so, perhaps. (Le beau est aussi utile que l'utile. Plus peut-etre.)

It's useful because it's beautiful.

It's not about the money; it's about the content.

At the end of the day, most people just want to be valued. They want to feel they have put their time to something that will seem to have been of value when they die.

All things in their beeing are good for something.

The purpose of construction is TO MAKE THINGS HOLD TOGETHER; of architecture TO MOVE US.

The most useful is the greatest.

Usefulness depends on tractability.

What preys on my mind is simply this one question: what am I good for, could I not be of service or use in some way?

Action can give us the feeling of being useful, but only words can give us a sense of weight and purpose.