A Balancing Act: Why Design and Functionality Must Work Together!

In the past as a freelance designer, I've worked with clients where I have struggled to strike a balance between form and function. On one hand, design should be visually appealing and engaging. On the other, it should be user-friendly and easy to navigate. With everything I design, I always want to create something extraordinary — to step out of my comfort zone and challenge myself. However, often the resulting deliverables are not as professional, let alone functional. But how can you achieve both without sacrificing one for the other?

The answer lies in balancing form and function. Design and functionality should work hand-in-hand to create a seamless user experience that is both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional. Here are some tips to help you achieve this balance.

Start with the User

Before you even begin designing, it's important to consider the needs and preferences of your target audience. What do they want from your product or service? What are their pain points, and how can you address them through design and functionality?

This is essentially incorporating a soft UX research process into every part of a design.

Keep it Simple

Simple designs tend to be more effective than complex ones. Focus on creating a clean, uncluttered design that allows users to easily find what they're looking for.

Your designs shouldn’t be reminiscent of a World of Warcraft raiders screen! (Image credit: ‘lagspike-duskwood’ on WoW Forums)

Use Visual Hierarchy

Visual hierarchy is the arrangement of design elements in order of importance. Use size, color, and placement to guide users' attention and make it easy for them to navigate your site or app.

Take your audience on a thought-out journey through your design.

Don't Sacrifice Functionality

While design is important, functionality should never be sacrificed for the sake of aesthetics. Make sure that your design elements are not only visually appealing but also functional and easy to use. Your designs should meet the actual purpose and requirements.

Ensure that your designs created achieve the goals in mind, and that your audience is able to easily accomplish their goals.

Iterate and Test

Design is an iterative process, and it's important to test and refine your designs as you go. Use user testing to gather feedback and make adjustments to improve both form and function.

Continue to iterate and improve by gathering feedback from your friends, family, neighbours — even your dog! This will give you a greater idea of user pain points and allow you to further balance function and form.

Final Thoughts: Balancing Form and Function

Balancing form and function is the key to successful design. As designers, it’s our responsibility to create not only aesthetically pleasing designs but also functional ones that serve their intended purpose. Striking the right balance between the two can be a challenge, but it’s a challenge worth taking. By achieving the perfect balance, we can create designs that not only look great but also serve their intended purpose effectively. So, let’s push ourselves to strike that perfect balance and create designs that not only stand out but also deliver real results.

“Form follows function”.

-Louis Sullivan

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Thanks, Max :)

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