Tag Archives: Word

Design is as much an act of spacing as an act of marking.

Bad design is smoke, while good design is a mirror.

A designer is a planner with an aesthetic sense.

Design is where science and art break even.

I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn’t make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant loosing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figsContinue reading “Words 26”

I love this remark. Researchers once put a team of white, alpha male brains in one room – desperately clever men – to solve a series of problems. In another room a diverse group were assembled, from professors to train drivers to checkout operatives, crossing race, age and gender. And – surprise, surprise – diversityContinue reading “Words 25”

If your dreams don’t scare you, there probably not big enough.

Every designers’ dirty little secret is that they copy other designers’ work. They see work they like, and they imitate it. Rather cheekily, they call this inspiration.

Good design is obvious. Great design is transparent.

People ignore design that ignores people.

Everything is designed. Few things are designed well.

Design is a plan for arranging elements in such a way as best to accomplish a particular purpose.

We live in a jargon world. Jargon excludes those not in the know. Jargon also makes you lazy. And it irritates a lot of people. Especially avoid acronyms. The drive towards simple, easy to understand English will also improve your understanding of complex issues.

Sound bites have a bad reputation. Unfair. Because they work. Power comes from explosive, cryptic phrases. So write short sentences. How short? Like this. Why? Because they’re easy to absorb. And think in simple chunks of information. It sounds simplistic but it works. Social speak is not work speak. Our social language is littered withContinue reading “Words 17”

Less is more. Make every word count. Think in’headlines’.

More powerful language is attractive. We live in a world of sloppy language where we have stopped bothering to seek the clarity or the drama that engages those to whom we are talking.

The single biggest enemy of energy is the computer. People sit behind it and their shoulders slump. It’s a great tool but no substitute for meeting, greeting, listening and talking. Dynamos constantly recharge themselves. So be a dynamo.

It’s attractive to see someone fired up. It’s not easy to be energetic when you’re very tired. And that phrase ‘I’m just so tired’ is filling the airwaves at present with so many bright young people oppressed by their own work and lifestyle. Build your energy by walking faster, setting yourself tough but achievable timelines,Continue reading “Words 13”