Blood, Sweat, and Fear: Great Design Hurts

At SxSW 2008, John Gruber Raconteur from Daring Fireball and Michael Lopp from Apple, discussed how great design hurts. The author at The Email Wars (I couldn't find a name) posted their notes from the panel, which include Lopp's summary of Apple's mysterious design process.

The core dilemma for talented designers in any field is this: If you strive for greatness in your design, you will meet resistance; if you strive to avoid resistance, you can’t do great design. Different is scary. Great design has to fight with the idea that many see “better” as meaning “more of the same”. The better your work and the higher your standards, the more you’ll have to fight against the urge to stay within the warm, safe confines of mediocrity.

I found more notes from the panel here and here.