Necessary and useful design should be beautiful

“Don’t make something unless it is both necessary and useful; but if it is both necessary and useful, don’t hesitate to make it beautiful.” – Design House Stockholm

This quote is the philosophy of the design company Design House Stockholm. The quote was most recently mentioned as echoing Daniel Burka’s design philosophy, and has also been cited in Joshua Porter’s article “The Shaker Design Philosphy.”

1. Functional objects should also be beautiful and delightful
2. Designs should be informed, but not solely determined by user experience data.
3. When useful and useable meet delight—great things happen.
4. Focus first on the overall experience
5. Design is more than the aesthetic. Design is fundamentally more.