Why People Don't "Get" Design

Why People Don’t “Get” Design

This is often framed in the

Designer/engineer dichotomy

What does it Mean to Design?

de·sign verb \di-ˈzīn\ : to plan and make decisions about (something that is being built or created) : to create the plans, drawings, etc., that show how (something) will be made !: to plan and make (something) for a specific use or purpose !: to think of (something, such as a plan) : to plan (something) in your mind





Time to Put it in Context

What does it Mean to Engineer?

en·gi·neer verb \en-jə-ˈnir\ : to plan, build, or manage (something) by using scientific methods !: to produce or plan (something) especially in a clever and skillful way !: to change the genetic structure of (a plant or animal)




The Definitions Support The Misconceptions

of Design

artists · designers · architects make things pretty !hand off the “real work” to the people who took science classes in college

general perception

How do we Change these Perceptions?

design · objectivity everyone has their preferences, right? !if there’s no objectivity related to beauty, why have design schools?

let’s get real about design


let’s get real about design


the way we think

if things can’t be objectively beautiful, then it doesn’t need to move 2 pixels to the left

three objective principles

: integrity : proportion : clarity

what is beauty

:integrity

the mind delights in fulness of being

:proportionthe intellect is not pleased with disorder

:claritythe object of the intellect is the intelligible

Let’s Look at An Example

· integrity · proportion · clarity

is this ugly?

What About uX?

:integrity = responsive design

:proportion = visual hierarchy

:clarity = design consistency

These 3 Principles : integrity : proportion : clarity

provide a great foundation for framing the design conversation !for more info check out Jacques Maritain’s “Art & Scholasticism”

Fin.