The germ of an idea doesn't make the sculpture that stands up... so the next stage is hard work
Mihaly CsikszentmihalyiRead
Good design is a visual statement that maximizes the life goals of the people in a given culture (or, more realistically, the goals of a certain subset of people in the culture) that draws on a shared symbolic expression for the ordering of such goals.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Good design reflects cultural values and aspirations.
This quote emphasizes the importance of design as a form of visual communication that not only represents but also enhances the life goals of specific groups within a culture. It suggests that effective design is not just about aesthetics, but about aligning visual expression with the aspirations and values shared by a community.
Themes
DesignCultureGoalsVisualExpression
In practice
Example use cases
In a design class, the professor quoted Csikszentmihalyi to inspire students to think about the societal impact of their work.
More from Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
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Mihaly CsikszentmihalyiRead
It is as if evolution has built a safety device in our nervous system that allows us to experience full happiness only when we are living at 100%-when we are fully using the physical and mental equipment we have been given.
Mihaly CsikszentmihalyiRead
Our jobs determine to a large extent what our lives are like. Is what you do for a living making you ill? Does it keep you from becoming a more fully realized person? Do you feel ashamed of what you have to do at work? All too often, the answer to such questions is yes. Yet it does not have to be like that. Work can be one of the most joyful, most fulfilling aspects of life. Whether it will be or not depends on the actions we collectively take.
Mihaly CsikszentmihalyiRead
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What I adore is supreme professionalism. I’m bored by writers who can write only when it’s raining.
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