What Does Good Design Mean to You?

Hanis Jazil
Jul 21, 2017 · 2 min read

The perennial question over what makes good design often goes unnoticed, but it is everywhere around us. Today, we explore the many different qualities of what makes design, good.

Now, contemporary visual artists may offer ambiguous explanations such as, “Good design, is as little design as possible.” But there are also product designers who opt for a functional response, saying “Good design, works.”

I believe that good design captivates and controls the user or viewer into action depending on the medium of impression.

Ultimately, good design is focused on the problems that people face, by identifying intent, applying the right approach and providing rationale for the layperson; the simple-minded consumer that could be you or me.

It is important that we separate design from art to reduce confusion for the reader, so we go beyond the judgment of taste and the exclusive opinions of aesthetics to arrive at a holistic level of understanding and accessibility over what makes good design.

For that purpose, we can agree that “Good design is honest” where products, buildings and spaces are built for the specific needs of people, instead of causing alienation and fear of dysfunction.

In this age of connected convenience, we may point out that “Good design is invisible.” We attribute this to the non-visible systems in our daily lives that informs us of our tasks, creating reassurance within a smart and seamless environment.

It is not long now until “Good design” evolves to a requirement where we demand the power to directly manipulate the world around us, with our biometric implants or genetic mutations to enjoy a more continuous experience that enables us to do more with less.

Only then, can we no longer feel the need to be pulled into making the minor decisions in our lives to enhance our expectations.

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