Logical vs Beautiful

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Permalink Reply by Scott Johnson on October 7, 2009 at 5:44pm

Rebecca, for me, I'm a "form follows function" type of thinker. I think of it like a logo design. First and foremost, a logo has to function. If I design a logo that is aesthetically pleasing but does not communicate or reproduce well, it's a failure. My job as a designer, one who wants the logo to go beyond mere functionality, is to make the design elegant. I strive to make it something that communicates but also tells the audience more about the brand that it represents.

Think of the way talented writers use language to express ideas, or the way dancers use difficult movement in what appears to be simple, elegant motion. It looks easy but it takes a lot of effort to get there. The truly successful design is one that functions efficiently while communicating in a sophisticated way. At least, that's my two cents.

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Warren on October 8, 2009 at 12:20pm

Scott-

It's nice to hear that others consider function before elegance too! However, I might admit that I can occasionally be too logical when designing. I work as a prepress specialist now, so in every design opportunity I first consider how it will be reproduced+how many times+quality+etc etc etc. It's easy to get caught up in the logistics of reproducing the design rather than just the art of the design itself.

Thanks for your reply! The way you put it simplifies it in a very beautiful way!

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