In 1970, Los Angeles became the first place where the total acreage used for roads and parking exceeded the amount of space given over to habitation.
Victor PapanekIf design is to be ecologically responsible, it must be independent of concern for the gross national product.
Victor PapanekWe live in a society that penalizes highly creative individuals for their non-conformist autonomy. This makes the teaching of problem solving in design both discouraging and difficult. A...student (has) massive blocks against new ways of thinking, engendered by some 16 years of mis-education.
Victor PapanekAll designed tools and objects are sort of extensions of human abilities, and they do tend to make life richer for us. But, an awful lot of designs, especially in this country, make life a lot more inconvenient. I'm thinking, for instance, of high-fidelity units that have so many switches and toggles and buttons and things that they confuse most people.
Victor Papanek