Design Aesthetic Or Aesthetic

1007 Words3 Pages

In the past decades, there has been a heated debate concerning whether design aesthetic or functionality should be the core of industrial design. Some believe design should be purely aesthetic. while others believe design should be appealing and functional. An aesthetic design should be visually appealing. On the other hand, a functional design focuses towards to the practicability of the design. However as a designer, I strongly believe a well executed design should be functional while maintaining a high level of visual aesthetic.

Although some believe aesthetic and functional aspects can seemingly separated from each other, but both aspects are considered inseparable in these days because of the advent of technology and the rapid changes of consumer’s preferences and behaviour. According to Luchs suggested the unity of product design aesthetic and functionality plays a significant role when it comes to consumers’ product preferences when unity refers to the perception that design aesthetic and functionality share common associations (2008, p.6). Disunified products are less preferred and accepted by consumers compare to an unified product. Research suggested this behaviour was mediated by the perception that unified products make more sense than disunified product (2008 Luchs). This theory is proven by the different levels of success experienced by early entrants to the hybrid car segment. Consider the fact that Honda and Toyota are the early entrants to the hybrid car segment and introduced hybrid car that offers identical hybrid technology, fuel economy, driving dynamics and seat capacity and space but Toyota decided to launch the Prius with unique form that was widely accepted and associated with the hybrid technology. Mean...

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...ly followed and praised by numerous world-renowned industrial designers and architects, for instance Victor Papanek, Raymond Loewy and Henry Dreyfuss (2010 Marshall). Although Sullivan’s phrase has evolved the design world drastically however this philosophy is now considered as outdated. Interdisciplinary collaboration has proven to create products that suit today’s needs.

In conclusion, aesthetic and function play a significant part when it comes to industrial design. Although some believe design should be purely focus on aesthetic meanwhile the others believe design should be functional while has an appealing appearance. The research material clearly support the idea that design being function while visually appealing. To achieve that which requires involvement in various stages of design process and requires enormous amount of design thinking processes as well.

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