Home > Author > Maggie Macnab
1 " Design is a fundamental human activity, relevant and useful to everyone. Anything humans create—be it product, communication or system—is a result of the process of making inspiration real. I believe in doing what works as circumstances change: quirky or unusual solutions are often good ones. Nature bends and so should we as appropriate. Nature is always right outside our door as a reference and touch point. We should use it far more than we do. "
― Maggie Macnab , Design by Nature: Using Universal Forms and Principles in Design
2 " Design that mimics the sensual continuity of nature's subtle connections of color, light and texture invite the viewer's receptivity. "
3 " Principles that drive equilibrium in nature's design also power human design. "
4 " Nature's design is fully economical. Human design follows this model when it minimizes information and maximizes understanding. "
5 " Basic geometric shapes communicate universal qualities common to all cultures. Practical design integrates them appropriately. "
6 " In geometry, as in nature, the circle is the archetypal shape of wholeness and inclusion. It is an effective shape for nonprofits or community-focused efforts. "
7 " Branding is simply pattern recognition, established across multiple tiers of application and fueled by the energy of money. "
8 " Optimal design delivers information in ways that are useful, beautiful and improve the experience of all involved: audience, client and designer. "
9 " A company has integrity when its words and actions consistently match the branding effort. "
10 " Effective problem solving in design requires a balance of strategy and spontaneity, intelligence and creativity. "
11 " Directive design gives an either/or choice, similar to a traffic sign. Interpretive design allows for personal choice, in the same way symbolism allows for individual meaning. "
12 " Design is a human ritual of understanding. "
13 " It is the nature of intuition to spark and guide creativity, and it's an essential ingredient for anything "new" to happen in the world at all. "
14 " Designers need to recognize that, though their goal is to influence consumers, the effect upon individuals and society must be considered. They must decide whether to use their creative energies and the power of symbol to present something that benefits society or to use it in a way that is false but personally advantageous. Today the pharmaceutical industry is a multibillion dollar business driven by the consumer's misplaced fear, ignorance, desire and hope. Take the example of antidepressants being administered to teens to treat behavior problems rooted in patterns that could be changed instead with structure, discipline, motivation and diet. Pharmaceutical drugs can certainly be a useful and effective treatment, but the industry sometimes creates a false need for the sake of profit. Symbolic "
― Maggie Macnab , Decoding Design: Understanding and Using Symbols in Visual Communication
