From all these experiences the most important thing I have learned is that legibility and beauty stand close together and that type design, in its restraint, should be only felt but not perceived by the reader.
Adrian FrutigerRead
If you remember the shape of your spoon at lunch, it has to be the wrong shape. The spoon and the letter are tools; one to take food from the bowl, the other to take information off the page... When it is a good design, the reader has to feel comfortable because the letter is both banal and beautiful.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of thoughtful design in communication, making the tools used for conveying information both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Adrian Frutiger highlights that the tools of communication, like spoons and letters, should be designed in a way that the user feels at ease while interacting with them. A well-designed letter transcends mere functionality, blending simplicity and beauty to enhance the reader's experience, allowing information to be absorbed effortlessly.
Themes
DesignCommunicationFunctionalityAestheticsReader Experience
In practice
Example use cases
In a presentation about user interface, you might say, 'As Adrian Frutiger said, if you remember the shape of your spoon at lunch, the design is wrong.'
More from Adrian Frutiger
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