BEAUTY VS USABILITY (THEORIES LECTURE 1)

In this topic of Beauty vs Usability, I support both due to the importance of user experience. In design field, both beauty and usability are essential to make a product more valuable and worth to be accessed overall. All of us are users and everything that we use daily lives could affect our lifestyle and environment. It is like choosing between a bicycle and a car. Majority would choose the car because it is bigger and trendy (aesthetic), contain more passengers and move faster (function). Driving a car provides shade from the hot sun and rainy day, creating a more comfortable environment compared to a bicycle whereas a bicycle is small and can only be used for short distances.

Based on my chosen article, an experiment is conducted to test whether Beauty or Usability is more important to our daily lives. The ATM machine experiment conducted by was clearly stated that Usability is more preferred by majority due to the easy access of the buttons and screen. The experiment was continued where a good web design does not only consist of the useful contents of the website but the easy accessibility of the buttons and navigation panels and also the background color, texture and font size.

Some people might prefer practicality but with the help of a touch up on the outlook would make the product a complete package. While some might prefer the aesthetic of a product but it would not serve any value if the product itself is not useable. For example, a user comes across between three sofas at a furniture shop. First is a simple one but can only be used for sitting. Second one comes with a foldable bed with an addition of few hundred dollars. Third one is a sofa bed and comes with floral design and same price with the second one. All the sofas are made of the same materials. Definitely, the user is smart enough to choose the third one considering the lifespan, function and beauty of the sofa- where it is all worth with only a few hundred dollars. This is where the evolution of user experience developed to become more advance and efficient-producing a conducive environment for everyone.

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In architecture and interior design field where form follows function is a logical statement as the outlook appearance will be affected by its inner function and purpose; making them a perfect combination. For example, a hotel room with an odd corner and edge will be considered a wasted space although it is beautifully furnished. It would be much better if the remaining space is used for something useful instead and not to forget the attractive and quality finishes.

Beauty and usability does not only imply in design but in human value as well. Any guy would be flattered when they came across a pretty girl at a street. However, the situation will be different if the pretty girl is rude and disrespectful. No guy would want to approach a rude and disrespectful girl as it will be a bad influence to them and their friends and family. Therefore, it is both inner and outer beauty that brings out the good quality of a girl that is admired by majority.

Therefore, Beauty + Usability = Good experience 




Article reference:
https://www.google.com.my/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CDAQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mmi-basel.ch%2Fdownload%2Fpictures%2Fcf%2F8682k9s5be3eui6n560befvd7uy0uo%2F2012_tuch_chb.pdf&ei=6ZTkVKniOIyTuAToo4LgBg&usg=AFQjCNEnraJv3cUi3f5AG3IDuMA83phDiQ&sig2=lC9WcsciilVsV8i70SQENw