Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful.
John MaedaRead
Skill in the digital age is confused with mastery of digital tools, masking the importance of understanding materials and mastering the elements of form.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes that true skill in the digital age goes beyond just using tools; it requires a deep understanding of the materials and principles behind them.
John Maeda's quote sheds light on the misconception that simply being proficient with digital tools equates to true skill in the digital age. It suggests that while tool mastery is beneficial, it is imperative to grasp the underlying principles and elements of design and materials to achieve genuine mastery and innovation in the digital realm.
Themes
Digital SkillMasteryUnderstandingToolsDesign
In practice
Example use cases
During a tech workshop, the instructor highlighted this quote to emphasize the importance of design principles alongside tool proficiency.
More from John Maeda
All quotes βIn the '70s and '80s there was an attempt in K-12 to teach science through art or art through science. The challenge today is how do you build the ethos of art and design into the academy of science.
John MaedaRead
Technological advances have always been driven more by a mind-set of 'I can' than 'I should' Technologists love to cram maximum functionality into their products. That's 'I can' thinking, which is driven by peer competition and market forces But this approach ignores the far more important question of how the consumer will actually use the device focus on what we should be doing, not just what we can.
John MaedaRead
When people say, 'I don't get art' ... that means art is working.
John MaedaRead
Amidst all the attention given to the sciences as to how they can lead to the cure of all diseases and daily problems of mankind, I believe that the biggest breakthrough will be the realization that the arts, which are considered "useless," will be recognized as the whole reason why we ever try to live longer or live more prosperously. The arts are the science of enjoying life.
John MaedaRead
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