Aesthetic Principles in Contemporary Design
When a design looks good, it triggers a positive response in people’s minds, leading them to believe it functions better. This concept is supported by the Laws of UX, which highlight that people are more forgiving of minor usability issues when a product is visually appealing.
Aesthetic in design has emotional and functional power. However, it has a big connection to art history, and to understand this first we have to know the art aesthetic and its shift.
Aesthetic shift in art
From classical art (natural beauty), which aimed to accurately represent the world, to modern art (formal beauty), which focuses on the intrinsic allure of lines, colors, and shapes on a flat surface, and finally to contemporary art (the “beauty” of ideas): the function of expressing beauty has shifted toward expressing truth and goodness, placing more emphasis on how people should live. In this article beauty of contemporary art, I delve deeper into this topic.
Aesthetic in design
The design has inherited the pursuit of formal beauty from modern art, continuing to delve into form and sensory aesthetics. Movements such as Dutch De Stijl and Bauhaus laid the foundation for this exploration, further advanced by later styles like the International Typographic Style. An example in the digital world, think about these flat designs, — such as the logo changes on Instagram, from a realistic vintage camera image to a flat and gradient icon, the International Typographic style is widely regarded as a big influence on the principles of flat design.
Aesthetic in usability
The design also learns from contemporary art in solving human problems. It’s no longer solely about sensory or visual beauty; it now focuses on people’s lives, emphasizing ‘goodness’ and thoughtfulness. An approach like Human-centered design interprets “goodness” and promotes kind design. For example, a mobile banking app that prioritizes accessibility keeps the color contrast and font size comparable, and the user can easily navigate through the keyboard. In the user experience field, emotional design — overarching visceral, functional, and reflective aspects — aligns with this aesthetic shift. For example, the Duolingo app, combined cheerful animations, playful learning steps, and encouraging messages to engage with the practicing.
Modern art theory laid the aesthetic foundation for design, especially the beauty of form. Using the concepts from contemporary art has given design a broader perspective. Beauty is not limited to visual enjoyment but includes the pursuit of truth and kindness.
