15 inspiring quotes from some of the world's greatest graphic designers

I find it comforting that design is such an open and collaborative creative business. When you’re still glued to your desk late at night, toiling away at a brief, it can feel like very isolating work — so I take comfort and find motivation in the wisdom of my peers. It’s good to know that we’ve all been there, even Milton Glaser.

Here, I’ve compiled some of the best quotes from some of my favourite designers – including those who have been guest speakers at Shillington. If you have a favourite quote, or if you’d like to share your advice, then please comment below.

1. Milton Glaser

"There are three responses to a piece of design. Yes, no and wow! Wow is the one to aim for."

2. Bob Gill

“I think the fun of being a graphic designer is to do something original, to make images that nobody’s ever seen before. And the only way you’re going to do that is to avoid what the culture tells you is good. There is no good. The good comes from what does the job. Once it might be a sunset, which is beautiful, and another might be a dog turd, which is disgusting. But it may be the perfect image for what you’re trying to communicate."

3. Chip Kidd

“Never fall in love with an idea. Ideas are whores. If the one you’re with isn’t doing the job, there’s always, always, always another.”

4. Andrew Harvey

“Ask why. Ask why until it becomes painful until you’re sick of the word. And give it character — there’s enough ‘nice’ design in the world. Whether sublime, exuberant, minimal or maximal, give your work personality. Don’t be afraid to be awkward — what feels comfortable today, will be boring tomorrow.”

5. Jon Gledstone

“The simpler the idea, the better. It could break ground, and it could defy physics, but as long as the idea is super simple enough that I can tell my Mum, then that’s a great idea.”

6. Neville Brody

“Digital design is like painting, except the paint never dries.”

7. Paul Rand

“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.”

8. Kevin Finn

“As designers, we are in the service industry, but that does not mean we need to be servile. Clients are looking to us for guidance and expertise. We should lead them and not be bullied.”

9. Petrula Vrontikis

“Practice safe design. Use a concept.”

10. David Pearson

“You have power as a designer to change the relationship someone has with an object. Your challenge is to keep people looking. Build-in those little details. To some people, they might mean a lot.”

11. Joe Sparano

“Good design is obvious. Great design is transparent.”

12. Tim Sutherland

“Be remembered. I’d much rather have work loved or hated than not remembered.”

13. Elliott Walker

“Surround yourself with people that will give you honest feedback. They need to be able to say ‘this sucks’. That doesn’t mean you suck. But that feedback will make you better.”

14. Saul Bass

“Failure is built into creativity… the creative act involves this element of ‘newness’ and ‘experimentalism’; then one must expect and accept the possibility of failure.”

15. Joshua Brewer

“Socrates said, “Know thyself.” I say, “Know thy users.” And guess what? They don’t think as you do."