41 Design Quotes to Boost Creativity & Inspire Artistry (2024)

Updated Feb 14, 2023.
Design Quotes

Creativity may seem like being fun, cool, and crazy but the weight of it all can bare down on the best minds.

Most artists thrive when their minds are calm. They draw on motivations, experiences, failures, and challenges. You can rely on a clear and inspired mind to give extraordinary results.

Design is creativity, whether you are designing a logo, product, or house, or creating an amazing painting.

To see you scale new heights and cross frontiers as a designer, here are some powerful and inspiring design quotes to fuel your passion and drive your results.

Powerful Design Quotes to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing

01
“Design is intelligence made visible.”
—  Alina Wheeler.

Every design is a portrayal of beliefs and personal choices. It is like an image of what you have going on inside, especially your intelligence and thought pattern.

This rich blend of strategy also termed intelligence and visual art choices are the raw ingredients needed to design. Unlike logos or similar ideas, design is a more detailed expression of your own ideas, and experiences, mixed with client specifications.

The brilliance of your designs is related to the state of your mind. Let your ideas and inspirations flow freely as you apply your hands on each job.

02
“Every great design begins with an even better story.”
— Lorinda Mamo.

The designs you make are birth products of experiences and lessons learned over time. It also is an opportunity to be unique and real. Every individual has an experience and trait peculiar to them.

Your distinction as an artist is using these differences to create something beautiful and great that other people can benefit from.

One of the most important stages of any design process is the thought process or ideation. You are not only recollecting and looking at how what you know can make sense to your clients but the best way to execute it and make it understandable.

03
“Design is one of the few disciplines that is a science as well as an art. Effective, meaningful design requires intellectual, rational rigor along with the ability to elicit emotions and beliefs. Thus, designers must balance both the logic and lyricism of humanity every time they design something, a task that requires a singularly mysterious skill.”
— Debbie Millman.

Design can seem like pure art to somewhere all you need is imagination, creativity, etc. Some would say it is purely a science field drawing from the ability to carry out tests and create solid applications.

But true design is a balance between art and science.

This art can be learned but a great percentage already lies within you. You are a man who not only has the artistic talent but the adequate technical skills to not just work with emotions and feelings but logic and rationality.

It may be awesome to the mind but not executable as an application or software.

04
“The essence of interior design will always be about people and how they live. It is about the realities of what makes for an attractive, civilized, meaningful environment, not about fashion or what's in or what's out. This is not an easy job.”
— Michael Stillwell.

If you interview random people on interior design, you will be shocked to see that most of them still think that interior design and event planning are the same things.

Interior design is not a game of fashion or what is only beautiful and colorful. Interior designing is about knowing the client and what space they want to create and the best way to go about it.

It is just like brown being the color for coffee but having a client who wants it to be pink based on preference. The number one goal for an interior designer is to make your client happy.

Many things could make the environment suitable and meaningful to the client. This is why you need to put on your thinking cap and leave it on for a good period.

05
“Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”
— Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

Perfection is simplicity as well. If you are to add every design to one project, you will be stuck adding and complicating everything. The original idea will end up being lost and this is what makes a bad design. Less is more.

When there is nothing left to take away means that every element is in place and none is misplaced or lacks true meaning in the full view.

Rather than cluster everything, what you need to learn is the use of simple and necessary elements that complement each other and most importantly make sense. These elements are shape, space, line, color, texture, topography, and value (or form).

Elements of Design
Source: Renderforest

After all, you are trying to pass a message across. The creative process should not be complicated.

06
“Make it simple, but significant.”   
— Don Draper.

There are so many design samples that have marveled the world due to the look and the price it was sold for. Some of these simple designs were sold for millions of dollars and all that was on the canvas was a “dot” or “a spill”.

Truth is when you can interpret the little you do or even make sure that the effects you use all speak, then you have successfully designed.

Make it simple but significant. Rather than worry and whine about how many elements others use for one project, concern yourself with how much significance it gives.

07
“I want to make beautiful things, even if nobody cares, as opposed to ugly things. That's my intent.”
– Saul Bass.

This quote by Saul Bass is a reminder that no matter the depth of meaning attached, design is meant to be beautiful and pleasing to the eyes.

When it is ugly and attractive, very few will like to pay a second glance at it. Beauty attracts. It opens the viewer to know more, spend time to understand what you have done, and uncover more details about your project.

Next time, you plan a design project, ask yourself if you would be caught up in admiring it.

08
“It's through mistakes that you actually can grow. You have to get bad to get good.”
—  Paula Scher.

Do not fear mistakes. Furthermore, be open to criticism and reviewers either negative or positive. This is the only way to grow because these corrections are pointers of where you have made errors and indicators of how you can make it correct.

Don't despise humble beginnings because the greatest started small, they started by being criticized and learned from their mistakes. you can either allow it to make or break you.

09
“Having guts always works out for me.”   
— Stefan Sagmeister.

Whoever said design is just fun and funky forgot to add that it is equally risky. You are making something out of your imagination and putting out these things out there to see if they will be appreciated by others.

In the case where it isn't, it may leave you feeling crushed.

Having the guts to be a great designer is being able to try out new things and put yourself out there. Design has a lot of connection with confidence.

10
“The public is more familiar with bad design than good design. It is, in effect, conditioned to prefer bad design, because that is what it lives with. The new becomes threatening, the old reassuring.”
— Paul Rand, Art Director, and Graphic Designer.

Not everyone understands or knows the good from the bad and the ugly. Some designers have saturated the market with lots of substandard products leaving the public feeling like it's either that or nothing else.

Bringing fresh and creative ideas may meet rejection, confusion, and inappreciation at first but with time and patience, you will be understood. Give it your time and effort.

11
“Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that's why it is so complicated.”
— Paul Rand.

When you hear simple, it is not an avenue to be lax and downplay efforts, rather it is a platform to put in a great effort for the simple to make a depth of sense.

There are multiple ways it can turn out and numerous approaches you can give. It can be all about the meaning, beauty of simplicity, or a blend of all. Choosing the best way to execute is the most crucial.

12
“Good design is all about making other designers feel like idiots because that idea wasn't theirs.”
— Frank Chimero.

This funny yet accurate quote by Chimero is an invitation to dig deep into your personal creativity archive to birth something new and breathtaking that others will gush over.

You can only achieve this when you get creative and avoid settling for copied designs. Be original and people will love you for it.

13
“If you do good work for good clients, it will lead to other good work for other good clients. If you do bad work for bad clients, it will lead to other bad work for other bad clients.”
— Michael Bierut, Designer, and Educator.

So many designers take contracts only for the money. They do not care or pay attention to the caliber of work or clients they are involved with.

You should be different. Here's why.

Not only will the type of client tell if you are professional or reputable enough but the quality of work will also speak for itself.

If you work for two good clients, they will refer you or others will get to know you and will automatically want you too. If you work for bad clients, good clients will rarely want your service. Be level-headed in choosing your clients.

14
“Truly elegant design incorporates top-notch functionality into a simple, uncluttered form.”
— David Lewis, Industrial Designer.

Functionality is a big factor that cannot or should not be compromised in design. If you make simple and functional designs, you have made a great design.

If it is functional but complex, the commendations you should have gotten will be replaced with complaints and tons of questions in a bid to seek clarity. Simple designs explain themselves.

15
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.”
— Michael Jordan.

No matter the years of experience and success in your career, you need to appreciate and respect teamwork. Two goods heads are better than one and a prideful designer will soon end his success based on headiness.

Be intentional about working with those you need for the projects. Don't bypass any hierarchy because you feel you are better off doing it on your own.

16
“A healthy team is made up of people who have the attitude that it is better to learn something new than to be right.”
— Bill Buxton, Computer Scientist and Designer.

Teamwork is ruined if every member seeks only to be right and viewed as the most intelligent. This idea defeats the original concept of teamwork.

Teamwork is a group of people who not only support each other but assist each other to grow, learn, unlearn and relearn.

Learning new things will not only stabilize the team but place you ahead naturally because your team always has something new to offer.

17
“Experiences we have come to expect on mobile apps have created new standards and expectations for all digital media including the web. The result is websites are evolving to become more app-like in their rich functionality.”
— Raj Aggarwal, Cofounder of Stealth Startup.

Functionality is a big player in modern design. Most websites and applications are assessed via mobile phones. In fact, statistics show that over 55% of global Web traffic came from mobile devices in 2021.

This is why designing for websites and apps that do not accommodate optimized mobile views is not only a risk but a waste of time and resources.

These standards being set have led to optimization techniques that have won the hearts of many mobile users.

18
“Designers love subtle cues because subtlety is one of the traits of sophisticated design. But Web users are generally in such a hurry that they routinely miss subtle cues.”
— Steve Krug, Author, and UX Professional.

Every sophisticated designer loves to leave subtle clues to demonstrate the depth of effort and thought put into the process. But sadly users miss it because they are in a hurry to get what they need and leave.

This should not deter you from giving your best because many out there see what you are doing. The sacrifice and efforts. Asides from that, the users enjoy and use these features whether they know it or not.

Inspiring Design Quotes About Creative Design

19
“The aim of being a good designer is to have an influence. If you design furniture or lifestyle, you should influence the way people evolve globally. It's good to have an influence.”
– Olivier Theyskens.

Influencing your target means you are working with passion as your drive. Some designers are driven by money which is sad.

You should pay attention to what you can offer to others globally. In any field or design, pass a message, influence fellow designers, and give them a mental nudge to be better.

Let your work speak volumes to people all over the world and unite people of different industries, ethnicities, and origins.

20
“There's design, and there's art. Good design is total harmony. There's no better designer than nature – if you look at a branch or a leaf, it's perfect. It's all a function. Art is different. It's about emotion. It's about suffering and beauty – but mostly suffering!”
– Diane von Furstenberg.

Design is expressiveness. These elements speak even without words which is why harmony and sync matter.

Asides beauty of looks, emotions are valid points to consider. A true designer looks at the elements of nature and how to use them to influence his or her work.

21
“Good design is good business.”   
— Thomas Watson Jr.

Have you made breathtaking designs that clients could not stop gushing about?

If you have then you are a step closer to understanding how good design is good business.

When you make incredible design, marketing and rapid sales become easier. After all, people crave to patronize those who are excellent at what they do. If you want to make great sales, make great designs.

22
“Simplicity is not the goal. It is the by-product of a good idea and modest expectations.”
— Paul Rand.

If the idea is good, it is simple, functional, and executable, demanding little elements.

Simplicity in itself should not be your goal. However, your depth of knowledge and understanding of what you want will save you from using too many or unnecessary elements. In other words, if you strive for simplicity, start with good ideas.

23
“The most profound technologies are those that disappear. They weave themselves into the fabric of everyday life until they are indistinguishable from it.”
–Mark Weiser and Ana Rosario.

These words are so true. How many inventions we celebrated today have become part of our daily lives so much so that we cannot distinguish them or comprehend how vital they were at certain points in our lives.

This disappearance is the positive kind every designer silently craves. It is because it becomes so useful that it is integrated into human living. It's a legacy that lives on. For example Google. We have gotten so fond of this product and use it almost every day.

24
“It's not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”
– Steve Jobs.

Designing starts with creating an idea, an image, or a concept of the desired results or outcome. You plan, mockup, build, and measure.

Why is this process breakdown and outline important? It is because at every stage you get to choose what's best to achieve the finished product, and you have the opportunity to spot errors and improve the product. The end product is a highly efficient and functional system.

25
“Designers think everything done by someone else is awful, and that they could do it better themselves, which explains why I designed my own living room carpet, I suppose.”
— Chris Bangle, Automobile Designer.

Design has a way of making you feel special and super creative. It's not a bad idea or a terrible feeling.

Design brings out independence and responsibility in individuals.

Even with the endless array and choice of designs out there, you are right, you can do better. There is room for improvement and you are warmly welcome to try.

Design Quotes About the Importance of Good Design

26
“Design adds value faster than it adds costs.”
— Joel Spolsky, web programmer, writer, and creator of Trello.

Checking the wallet and expenses each design requires is important if you work for a client and are restricted by budgets.

But in the case of doing this as a personal venture or even for clients, spare no cost to deliver premium quality because the quality you give determines the income you get.

Good money is spent on good designs. Cheap designs are bought cheaply. Don't be pennywise, pound foolish. Design is an investment, only those who sow, reap.

27
“Bad design shouts at you. Good design is the silent seller.”
— Shane Meendering.

Bad design can be detected from lousy elements littered all over. It makes the user flinch from merely taking a look.

But a good design works well and consciously or subconsciously invites you to look longer, delve deeper, and invite others.

With good design, organic sales are made easier. People just want to buy or use without the need for too much marketing.

28
“Design can help to improve our lives in the present. Design thinking can help us chart a path into the future.”  
— Tim Brown.

When you think about design, what comes first to you? Is it a money-making machine or a mirror into the future to solve problems and create solutions that will outlive the present?

Some of the best adverts, designs, and books in the world are designed with the future in mind. Rather than think now, think beyond.

29
“Simplicity will stand out, while complexity will get lost in the crowd.”  
— Kevin Barnett.

Complexity is not only annoying but also hardly used. Simplicity makes the average user feel welcome.

The three qualities of an excellent design are simplicity, accessibility, and usability.

Characteristics of Good Design
Source: Steve Amara

Looking at it, they know they can make use of your designs and understand the meaning without many hitches but the complex one reduces attention span and interest rate.

Be simple, clear, and concise. Let every expression simplify and express the full view.

30
“Design creates culture. Culture shapes values. Values determine the future.”
 — Robert L. Peters.

Design is a moving train. It expands forms and reforms. From it, you get a culture or the normal way of life that shapes values.

It is important to pass the right message across through the medium of design. It is going to be interacted with by a lot of people.

31
“Design transcends agendas. It speaks to the politics of optimism.”
– Paul Bennett.

Design has a way of being lively, creative, and soulful. Moving past agenda and plans to set and follow the path it carves for itself along the way.

Even when it is not the original idea or the reproduction of the manuscript to the letter, design is not confined and would still teach, inspire and communicate.

32
“Styles come and go. Good design is a language, not a style.”
— Massimo Vignelli.

Communication is a keyword in design. No matter what you create, it will always speak and pass a message across. This is how powerful design is.

This pattern is unmovable. Good design is not negotiable, it is a language that is understandable. It is readable and understandable. It is unique and impactful.

Inspirational Design Quotes on Creativity and Design

33
“I strive for two things in design: simplicity and clarity. Great design is born of those two things.”
— Lindo Leader, graphic designer, and creator of the FedEx logo.

Simplicity opens your design up to a wider range of people. Not only will the sophisticated love your work but newbies will also be able to understand and learn more from your creation. It is a barrier breaker.

A great design is also measured by how clear it is. If you make the message easily understood and readable, you have succeeded in making a great design.

34
“Good design is obvious. Great design is transparent.”
–Joe Sparano Aaron McCullough.

It's just like passing the artwork of Da Vinci. It has its own voice and distinctiveness. This is what the greatest of designs should be all about. It should be easy to get seen, read, and felt.

Your greatest design feature has a lot to do with transparency. Be open to the values, elements, and meanings.

35
“Everything is designed. Few things are designed well.”
– Brian Reed.

The market is saturated with designers. Some would say you can get thousands of designers any day, anytime. These are not far from the truth because a look at the world we live in indicates that the work of designers is being felt.

Not all designs are good, well-planned, or executed. Doing it well matters a lot. It is the essence of design. It is giving the users something unique and well done for use. Your designs should be a reflection of a thorough and grounded designer.

36
“You can have an art experience in front of a Rembrandt … or in front of a piece of graphic design.”
– Stefan Sagmeister.

Graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister is pointing out the advancement of graphic design thus far. Graphic design has become so important that about 49% of SMBs say it is crucial to their success.

Graphic designing has advanced to the level where it can be referred to as a beautiful art piece because of the level of execution and detailing technological advancements have provided.

There are different types of graphic design like art and illustration, marketing and advertising graphic design, visual graphic design, etc.

Graphic design is taking a new shape and covers all spheres of human life. This is why a graphic designer is called an artist.

37
“The alternative to good design is always bad design. There is no such thing as no design.”
— Adam Judge, Author of “The Little Black Book of Design”.

No matter the state of your design whether positive or negative, it remains design. This is why it is important to keep designing and putting your creativity out there.

If criticism can make you better shun the fear of it and decide to use all you learn for the greater good. In the long run, you will design better with a better background to back you up.

38
“The function of design is letting design function.”
– Micha Commeren.

FUNCTIONALITY. If no one can benefit from this design it is not only bad but a waste of effort. It has to have a particular use or advantage to it.

Good design is one that others will love, enjoy and appreciate. If you successfully design this way, then you can truly be called a good designer.

39
“Accessible design is good design.”
— Steve Ballmer.

Accessibility is also a very important feature in design.

No matter the creative juice, time, effort, and mastery displayed on a piece, it will be hidden in the dark coffers. This is because accessibility was ignored.

Your design is meant to be seen and interacted with which is why making it accessible to as many individuals as possible will do you a ton of good. And your users as well.

40
“The role of the designer is that of a good, thoughtful host anticipating the needs of his guests.”
— Charles Eames, Designer.

Designing is first a product of planning. Here, you will anticipate and suggest the needs of your users.

As you plan and execute details, your mind is continuously focused on the guests and how to satisfy their needs.

If they are satisfied, you will be the one to reap the benefits which is why they are the first and most valuable consideration in your design map.

41
“Accidents often produce the best solutions. Only you can recognize the difference between an accident and your original intent.”
— Jennifer Morla, President and Creative Director of Morla Design.

As you create designs, there are times when accidents will end up producing solutions. Some of these accidents will help you in the future.

The original intent is only known to you. This is a good thing in design, creativity, and solutions can come from unexpected places and products. Be open-minded because your accidents can yield beautiful results.

Use These Excellent Design Quotes To Stay Inspired As An Artist

I believe you got to see more about the need to not just enjoy and love your profession but also helpful tips to succeed and make a difference in the industry.

The world is waiting with itchy fingers to see what you have next. Take your time and make it count. The world celebrates genius which is why celebrating you is unavoidable. Take a deep breath and believe in yourself.

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Anastasia Belyh

Editor at FounderJar

Anastasia has been a professional blogger and researcher since 2014. She loves to perform in-depth software reviews to help software buyers make informed decisions when choosing project management software, CRM tools, website builders, and everything around growing a startup business.

Anastasia worked in management consulting and tech startups, so she has lots of experience in helping professionals choosing the right business software.