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Aesthetic Value and Functionalism

Creative art such as poems, music, plays, movies, and paintings are considered to be created for the ending result to be an aesthetic experience. In the creative practices of industrial design and architecture the ending results often consider utility and practical function as well. Industrial designers have argued over the importance of functionalism and aesthetics for many years. Which one is more important and why?

Functionalism is based on putting priorities on a design that will be able to serve its purpose in an efficient way first before any extra ornament is added. The functionalist’s view toward design is found in many scientific explanations. Examples of these studies would be from biology, psychology and anthropology. They believe any feature in the system of a design being considered must have a specific explanation. While studying math and sciences the functionalists views are completely reasonable. In these studies these is almost always a universal answer.

When trying to relate a functionalist view to the steps in designing a product there is a thin line that will always develop arguments regarding aesthetics. The “Form follows function” attitude is the safe route but might not always be the right answer. Examples of this can be found all around the design world. When dealing with creative people they want to be able to express themselves and their tastes freely to the rest of the world. It is a human right to be able to express your opinion and points of view. If all products were just made for function without decoration or difference the world would seriously be lacking in individuality.

Marketing strategies used by millions of brands and companies have always used functionalism in close relation with aesthetics. An example of this would be the selling and distribution of shampoos and conditioners. Many standardized shampoos and conditioners are all made with relatively the same chemical mixes and ingredients. Regardless of the actual makeup being the same companies will use aesthetics to set their products apart from the leading brands to gain sales and attract customers. People might choose their brand if the aesthetics appeal to them and their character more than the leading brand even if the two products function exactly the same. In this case the function becomes secondary to the aesthetical value.

Aesthetics reflect a person’s taste and personality while functionalism gets the job done but isn’t necessarily as inviting or intriguing. Another example of this relates to interior design. A jail cell follows the rules of functionalism. It is designed to the bare minimum in aesthetics and puts its purpose in a living space first. The theory in this interior design is based on weather a human can survive with everything that they need, not what gives them pleasure or taste. You will find here the bare necessities. The bare minimum in this situation is without flavor and life. The opposite example of this is the interior of a hotel. People pay and expect this place to give them a certain comfort just from the aesthetics. The wall paper, bed sheets, comforters, even the shower curtains. All these unnecessarily decorated in a functionalist’s point of view but in turn the aesthetic value of these objects still gives off a vibe that will be more inviting for the customer.

Another example of this would be the marketing tools used to sell toys to children. Toys are almost always decorated and ornamented in bright colors and eye catching characters to attract customers. Children will always go for the toy that they see as the most visually intriguing and inviting. While the children are being subconsciously attracted to the products around them so are their parents. People make subconscious decisions about choosing one product over another everyday whether they want to admit it or not. Even the most hardcore of functionalists do this in their everyday lives. Which car you drive, the clothes you wear, the bag you carry, the house you live in, even the design of your phone. All of these products that are chosen by you reflect aspects of your persona weather you want to believe it or not. Aesthetic design is everywhere and it makes up our visual world. A world without aesthetics is like a world without color and diversity.

Even though aesthetics is very important part in human individuality it still must be considered hand in hand with functionalism. If a product is solely designed with only the aesthetic purpose in mind and not how well it is going to perform the product will lose all credibility. A building could be designed to be the tallest most beautiful building in the world, but if the structure is not strong and the foundation is weak the building becomes unsafe and uninhabitable. When designing a product I believe there is a huge responsibility in considering whether or not the structure of the product will be efficient and its aesthetic value. No one wants a poorly made product or an unattractive one.

Some people are willing to settle for just the function. They will use what they have and if it’s not broken don’t fix it. They believe that it is unreasonable to spend extra time and money on objects that cost more just for a certain visual appeal. On the other end of the spectrum there are people who base their entire lives off of aesthetic value. Examples of some of these people who are more respected in society could be fashion designers. They base their art work solely off the feelings and visual effects that aesthetics have on people as well as the function of their work. The aesthetics, taste and style for jobs and people like this are forever changing because creative minds are always coming up with new looks and new trends. To me this type of life is exciting especially for an artist. Living a life just based on functionalism and surrounding myself with products that just perform the task and do not give me anything extra seems mundane. I do not believe in the phrase “form follows function.” Instead I believe they should be equally studied and respected when considering the design for any product.