Good design is clear thinking made visible, bad design is stupidity made visible
Edward TufteRead
There are only two industries that refer to their customers as 'users'.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques the terminology used in certain industries, highlighting a dehumanizing aspect of how they view their customers.
Edward Tufte's quote points out that only two industries, namely technology and drugs, classify their customers or clients as 'users'. This observation invites reflection on the way these industries may perceive individuals more as tools to be utilized rather than as people with their own needs and experiences, suggesting a potential disconnection in the relationship between service providers and consumers.
Themes
UsersCustomersTechnologyDehumanizationPerception
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about ethical business practices, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of viewing customers as individuals.
More from Edward Tufte
All quotes →I have stared long enough at the glowing flat rectangles of computer screens. Let us give more time for doing things in the real world...plant a plant, walk the dogs, read a real book, go to the opera.
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There is no such thing as information overload, just bad design. If something is cluttered and/or confusing, fix your design.
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The minimum we should hope for with any display technology is that it should do no harm.
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PowerPoint is like being trapped in the style of early Egyptian flatland cartoons rather than using the more effective tools of Renaissance visual representation.
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If you’re told what to look for, you can’t see anything else.
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