Embracing Ugly.

Good design is when I like it. — Everybody

When we judge design, we expect simple, easy to use, approachable , apple-white, unapologetically beautiful. Well, I hate to be a party-pooper, but that’s not what design is.

Design is like an ugly baby. It’s fragile and messy. Hard to understand, and sometimes even scary.

Design is a dirty process. Trial and error are what makes good design, good. It doesn’t come from “inspiration” neither from apples falling to your head.

This is how design usually looks like.

Embracing ugly is not easy, but it is necessary to build together. Designing ugly is also an easier and faster way to express our ideas, collaborate and improve.

The good news is, babies grow up. I’ve learned good design comes from research, understanding and testing.

These give you clarity, and clarity helps “babies” grow. Don’t worry, if you put enough effort your designs will mature into something worth putting in the world. And that is the whole purpose of design.