"Is it as beautiful as it looks?"
I read a story that one of Henry Dreyfuss's partners, Bill Purcell, approached another designer's concept and asked, "is it as beautiful as it looks?"
Dreyfuss is, of course, known for his human factors approach to design, emphasizing user needs and capabilities. Purcell's question echoes this philosophy. Designers should critically assess whether the aesthetic choices complement or hinder the intended user experience.
Purcell found a clever way of getting that message across. I think it pairs well with a more direct way of putting it, said by co-host of Design Better Podcast, Aaron Walter, "Designers shooting for usable is like a chef shooting for edible."
