Beauty in web design Cennydd Bowles Clearleft

“ Beauty is an ecstasy; it is as simple as hunger. There is really nothing to be said about it.” W Somerset Maugham 1 Introduction

Landmark websites, where art thou? Armin Vit tinyurl.com/5z6t8m

” When it comes to web design it’s rare that all elements — functionality, clarity of information, and subjective beauty — come together.“ Armin Vit tinyurl.com/5z6t8m

Common in product design…

… why not in new media?

2 The changing face of beauty “ Anyone who preserves the ability to recognise beauty will never grow old.” Kafka

Roman statue Unknown artist c. 100 AD

David Michaelangelo 1504

The Fighting Téméraire tugged to her last Berth to be broken J M W Turner 1839

Waterlillies Claude Monet 1916

Fountain Marcel Duchamp 1917

Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 1963-1995 Tracey Emin 1995

Shedboatshed (Mobile Architecture No 2) Simon Starling 2005

The Web: ultimate abstract medium?

“ Do you love me because I am beautiful, or am I beautiful because you love me?” Cinderella 3 What makes something beautiful?

Beyond aesthetics

Three layers of cognitive processing:

Visceral

Visceral Behavioural

Visceral Behavioural Reflective

Unique Forms of Continuity in Space Umberto Boccioni 1913

“ Things are pretty, graceful, rich, elegant, handsome, but, until they speak to the imagination, not yet beautiful .” Emerson 4 The history of web design

Visceral

Visceral Behavioural

“ The Most Wanted Song”

Visceral Behavioural

Visceral Behavioural Reflective

“ When you get to the point where you cheat for the sake of beauty, you’re an artist.” Max Jacob 5 How to encourage beauty in web design

Early headway wefeelfine.org

1 Make an impact on peoples’ lives

2 Appeal to emotions 1 Make an impact on peoples’ lives

3 Have strong individual ownership 2 Appeal to emotions 1 Make an impact on peoples’ lives

4 Consider long-term seduction 3 Have strong individual ownership 2 Appeal to emotions 1 Make an impact on peoples’ lives

5 Explore new ideas from outside the web 4 Consider long-term seduction 3 Have strong individual ownership 2 Appeal to emotions 1 Make an impact on peoples’ lives

5 Explore new ideas from outside the web 6 Make a statement, convey an ideal 4 Consider long-term seduction 3 Have strong individual ownership 2 Appeal to emotions 1 Make an impact on peoples’ lives

“ Beauty will save the world.” Dostoyevsky 6 Epilogue / a call to arms

It’s our turn!

Thank you! Cennydd Bowles, 2008 cennydd.co.uk twitter.com/cennydd clearleft.com Image credits at cennydd.co.uk Typeset in Museo 300/500 Regular: tinyurl.com/5v39pr