It is important for first impressions, and to build a customers trust. If the site looked like it was from 1995, why wouldn't they think your product was from 1995 as well?
Functionality drives a site, but aesthetics keep the users there and wanting more. If something works but looks terrible no one would want to use it. It is like a car. Sure, all cars get you from point A to point B, but if you think the car is ugly or uncomfortable to use you won't use it.
I feel that aesthetics are quite important to a decent web design, so long as the functionality fits the look, and vice versa. There shouldn't be excessive use of "cosmetic aesthetics" (read, 1990's .gif websites) without purpose.
For example: A website for a movie could, understandably, be designed entirely in flash, however a simple one-page resume / portfolio website wouldn't need flash at all (unless the portfolio involved flash pieces).
Usability and functionality are prime concerns for any website, but aesthetics are the second-most important factor depending upon the actual site's purpose and demographic.
I think that looking good is 80% of the job, and the other 20% is making sure the site does what it needs to do. Making that initial impression to potential clients for a website you're making for a company is key. However, if you're developing web software and software as a service, I think the goal should be placed 20% on aesthetics, and 80% on usability within that application. After all, there's programs out there that people are behind for 8-10 hours a day, such as Salesforce and Google Apps; the emphasis for applications in that respect would be only for the best possible usage.
"Personally, I don't think there's a disconnect between functionality and aesthetics because they're all a part of usability. If something isn't pretty people won't be as inclined to use it. If it doesn't work properly people won't be as inclined to use it.
It's not a one or the other, it's both. You need both."
Maryanne - 14 years ago
Functionality is key but aesthetics play an important part of the user experience. If a website is visually pleasing to the eye coupled with the fact that its easy to navigate, the user will keep coming back and will go onto recommending it to other people. So aesthetics does have an important role to play in web design.
Aesthetics are as important as usability and they are both extremely important. If you have less of one to focus on the other, you are bound to lose credibility. That being said, great aesthetics should always complement/follow great usability.
chris - 14 years ago
Aesthetics and web design are actually the same thing.
If you are going to design webpages without aesthetics you might as well
get a job laying out newspaper pages where the form follows the function
and aesthetics is a word in the dictionary.
Period.
Full stop.
End of.
Content is more important than aesthetics. People will always come back to a site with great content and so-so visual design, and will never come back to a beautifully-designed site with nothing interesting on it.
If you have a big fan base (example, Transformers: The Movie) then people will stay on the site for hours trying to figure out how to use it, no matter how cluttered. Look at American Airlines, horrible architecture, but people will still book no matter what.
If you're a start-up company and need the exposure though, usability needs to balance form.
It IS extremely important. However, in agreement with @danoprey, the appearance of the website shouldn't subtract from usability and standards compliance. For example, if the designer and the web developer are two different people and the designer doesn't know a thing about compliant xhtml / css, the design he/she hands to the developer could (and most likely will) be pain in the ass to write compliant markup against, which leads to bad markup / UX. The designer could be the best illustrator out there, but if the entire design of the site is left up to their opinion, you're going to end up with junk.
Personally, I don't think there's a disconnect between functionality and aesthetics because they're all a part of usability. If something isn't pretty people won't be as inclined to use it. If it doesn't work properly people won't be as inclined to use it.
It's not a one or the other, it's both. You need both.
Having something that looks great but barely works might get you a few people in the beginning but they'll soon leave.
Having something that works great but is rather ugly in it's implementation might, at best, get you a die-hard following in a niche market.
If this wasn't the case we'd never have left the code line.
Katie - 14 years ago
Aesthetics are just as important as usability. If the site looks like it took time to make, and looks like it is professionally done, then people are more likely to take it seriously. However, that doesn't mean that usability should be sacrificed for aesthetics.
An aesthetics challenged looking website could lead users to think the site is not professional enough. Also, although beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the better you (or your website in this case) looks the more people would like to come back and recommend.
Aesthetics are as important as usability and functionality. No more, no less.
It is important for first impressions, and to build a customers trust. If the site looked like it was from 1995, why wouldn't they think your product was from 1995 as well?
If a pleasant website makes a person ease for a few moments, why not?
Functionality drives a site, but aesthetics keep the users there and wanting more. If something works but looks terrible no one would want to use it. It is like a car. Sure, all cars get you from point A to point B, but if you think the car is ugly or uncomfortable to use you won't use it.
I feel that aesthetics are quite important to a decent web design, so long as the functionality fits the look, and vice versa. There shouldn't be excessive use of "cosmetic aesthetics" (read, 1990's .gif websites) without purpose.
For example: A website for a movie could, understandably, be designed entirely in flash, however a simple one-page resume / portfolio website wouldn't need flash at all (unless the portfolio involved flash pieces).
Usability and functionality are prime concerns for any website, but aesthetics are the second-most important factor depending upon the actual site's purpose and demographic.
I think that looking good is 80% of the job, and the other 20% is making sure the site does what it needs to do. Making that initial impression to potential clients for a website you're making for a company is key. However, if you're developing web software and software as a service, I think the goal should be placed 20% on aesthetics, and 80% on usability within that application. After all, there's programs out there that people are behind for 8-10 hours a day, such as Salesforce and Google Apps; the emphasis for applications in that respect would be only for the best possible usage.
I think Doug got it pretty right:
"Personally, I don't think there's a disconnect between functionality and aesthetics because they're all a part of usability. If something isn't pretty people won't be as inclined to use it. If it doesn't work properly people won't be as inclined to use it.
It's not a one or the other, it's both. You need both."
Functionality is key but aesthetics play an important part of the user experience. If a website is visually pleasing to the eye coupled with the fact that its easy to navigate, the user will keep coming back and will go onto recommending it to other people. So aesthetics does have an important role to play in web design.
without aesthetics, we'd all be lost in a confusing ugly world.
Aesthetics are as important as usability and they are both extremely important. If you have less of one to focus on the other, you are bound to lose credibility. That being said, great aesthetics should always complement/follow great usability.
Aesthetics and web design are actually the same thing.
If you are going to design webpages without aesthetics you might as well
get a job laying out newspaper pages where the form follows the function
and aesthetics is a word in the dictionary.
Period.
Full stop.
End of.
Content is more important than aesthetics. People will always come back to a site with great content and so-so visual design, and will never come back to a beautifully-designed site with nothing interesting on it.
It depends on your target audience and purpose.
If you have a big fan base (example, Transformers: The Movie) then people will stay on the site for hours trying to figure out how to use it, no matter how cluttered. Look at American Airlines, horrible architecture, but people will still book no matter what.
If you're a start-up company and need the exposure though, usability needs to balance form.
It IS extremely important. However, in agreement with @danoprey, the appearance of the website shouldn't subtract from usability and standards compliance. For example, if the designer and the web developer are two different people and the designer doesn't know a thing about compliant xhtml / css, the design he/she hands to the developer could (and most likely will) be pain in the ass to write compliant markup against, which leads to bad markup / UX. The designer could be the best illustrator out there, but if the entire design of the site is left up to their opinion, you're going to end up with junk.
Personally, I don't think there's a disconnect between functionality and aesthetics because they're all a part of usability. If something isn't pretty people won't be as inclined to use it. If it doesn't work properly people won't be as inclined to use it.
It's not a one or the other, it's both. You need both.
Having something that looks great but barely works might get you a few people in the beginning but they'll soon leave.
Having something that works great but is rather ugly in it's implementation might, at best, get you a die-hard following in a niche market.
If this wasn't the case we'd never have left the code line.
Aesthetics are just as important as usability. If the site looks like it took time to make, and looks like it is professionally done, then people are more likely to take it seriously. However, that doesn't mean that usability should be sacrificed for aesthetics.
Form should follow function. Aesthetics show never get in the way of usability.
An aesthetics challenged looking website could lead users to think the site is not professional enough. Also, although beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the better you (or your website in this case) looks the more people would like to come back and recommend.
Aesthetics are as important as usability and functionality. No more, no less.
I think that it's very important to implement because visually pleasing sites can make an easier and better user experience.
its all about balance
use as much as you want IF it serves a goal.