Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It's quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure.
Thomas Watson, Jr.Read
Great design will not sell an inferior product, but it will enable a great product to achieve its maximum potential.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Good design enhances the effectiveness of a quality product, but it cannot make a poor product successful.
This quote by Thomas Watson, Jr. emphasizes the importance of product quality over design. While great design can significantly boost the appeal and usability of a product, it does not compensate for fundamental shortcomings in the product itself. Therefore, to truly succeed, companies must focus on producing high-quality products alongside thoughtful design.
Themes
DesignProductQualityPotentialBusiness
In practice
Example use cases
In a presentation about product development, you could quote this to illustrate the need for focusing on quality.
More from Thomas Watson, Jr.
All quotes βThe worst possible thing ... was to lie dead in the water with any problem. Solve it, solve it quickly ... If you solved it wrong, it would come back and slap you in the face, and then you could solve it right.
Thomas Watson, Jr.Read
If you stand up and be counted, from time to time you may get yourself knocked down. But remember this: A man flattened by an opponent can get up again. A man flattened by conformity stays down for good.
Thomas Watson, Jr.Read
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