You’ve in all probability heard the phrase “kind follows perform”. It’s a well-liked one among many alternative disciplines of design and suggests the efficiency of a factor should all the time be forward of the sweetness; aesthetics are usually not as essential. Actually, if designing a product or app the perform of it (the way it works) should come earlier than the shape (the visible) if we had been pressured to decide on, and design is normally offered as a selection between these issues — it’s probably not helpful and even thought-about design in any respect if the shape is given any extra significance than 2nd place. One thing, one thing the “dribbble-ization of design.”

I’m unsure how this turned such a wildly held perception amongst designers. Particularly as Dieter Rams’ ideas of design are handled with as a lot respect as any design idea written. As a result of, essentially the most attention-grabbing of Rams’ ideas is the third: “Good Design Is Aesthetic.”

The aesthetic high quality of a product is integral to its usefulness as a result of merchandise we use daily have an effect on our particular person and our well-being. However solely well-executed objects may be stunning. — Dieter Rams

I believe there are particular cases in design, largely product or UI, the place aesthetics are usually not essential. A factor simply must be a factor that does a factor. I dont actually care what my garments hangars appear to be so long as they maintain up my jacket within the closet.

However what design ought to purpose to be I believe, is as Dieter Rams places it: stunning and useful on the similar time. The candy spot in design isn’t when kind follows perform, however when each are balanced and one thing performs properly whereas additionally being stunning.

That is the idea for auto design and for my part, no different auto maker has balanced efficiency and sweetness like Ferrari — 2 phrases that outline the Ferrari model. Ferrari has all the time been about going quick. They’ve made vehicles that go sooner and sooner via their total historical past. At any time when they’ve added a wing, spoiler, curve, or crease for reaching extra velocity, they’ve by no means sacrificed the aesthetic of the automobile. To not say every little thing they’ve ever made appears wonderful, however with as many vehicles as they’ve produced, it’s a must to like their general observe document. (dangerous pun)

This isn’t Ferrari’s type, it’s their artistic voice. It’s what they imagine an car must be at it’s core, what design must be, what creates the Ferrari expertise and lust and if it lacks in both space, it’s not a very good automobile.

That form of design voice is one thing I’m leaning in direction of increasingly more in my very own work. I don’t care how properly a website or app or something works, if its not aesthetically pleasing. I believe the world can be a significantly better trying place and breed higher designers if all of us designed like Ferrari.