I’ve had this one myself.

I come from a design background that started in the early 90’s, and primarily from an industrial design starting point. So function over form, has always been an odd balance for me to strike.

It does pain me quite a lot, when I hear that particular argument “I just want the info”.

Does this person spend their entire time just digesting rss feeds in their vanilla rss reader? or do they ever EVER actually look up from the code.

To me, the design is the fulfilment of the desire to communicate and connect with the audience.

Sure I can give you “just the facts Ma’am”, but surely we would be missing all the fundamental insignificants of the world that make it great and wonderful?

You can simply taste the fine wine, and sure, it’s a great great drop. But shared with friends or loved ones, over a fine meal, or during a sunset, makes it all that much richer and more memorable.

Each of us is different, some of us like to have “just the facts” and live in perhaps somewhat ’sterile’ world. Others prefer to feel something from everything they interact with. Thus enhancing their experience of the world, every last drop of it.

So sure, we don’t need the theatre, or the arts, but the world is far less rich without them.

Very well put and exactly what I was trying to get across from my point of view - everything has to work together.

great post :)

I think that it is all design - the graphics, the layout, the interactions, the information.

In my not-so-humble opinion, based on 10 years of doing this stuff for a living, I would have to say the following: everything has to work together or none of it works at all.

“I just want the information” sounds naive - but I can see where they are coming from - imagine a complex flash front end that gets in the way of the information.

That is not to say that a site can taste (look/feel/sound) good and be good for you also. So it sounds like you were both arguing different ends of the same stick - both correct in your own way.

I agree entirely that only bad design is remembered, and that there is a balance to be maintained between content and visual design.

Best regards, Andrew