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Content precedes design. Design in the absence of content is not design, it's decoration.
Jeffrey Zeldman
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Content is the fundamental basis that should guide design, rather than mere aesthetics.

This quote emphasizes the importance of content in the design process. It asserts that effective design should prioritize meaningful content as its foundation; without it, design becomes superficial decoration rather than a purposeful creation that serves a function or conveys a message.

Themes

ContentDesignAestheticsDecorationPurpose

In practice

Example use cases

A designer's presentation on the importance of UX in web development.

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Quote by Jeffrey Zeldman | QuoteProject