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I'm considering this essay one of my favorites from Paul Graham. The essay argues that good taste and bad taste exist. Graham argues against relativism in design and cites a variety of examples of architecture, typography, writing, sketching, painting, aircraft design, and others that bolster his opinion. TL;DR - Design should strive to be: - Simple: Prefer simplicity to complexity when possible. - Timeless: Design today for tomorrow by pleasing yesterday. - Pointed: Focus always on the problem; don't work for work's sake. - Suggestive: Constrain usage without suffocating the user. - Humorous: Prefer light-heartedness to sobriety. - Difficult: "Good design" is takes time, effort, and tremendous skill. - Ostensibly effortless: Solutions should look obviously correct. - Symmetric Appreciate symmetry. - Natural: In nature, form ever follows function. - Iterative: Write; rewrite; rewrite; rewrite; throw away; write; publish. - Imitative: Be confident enough to copy others' existing, beautiful ideas. - Communal: Pay attention to "Schelling points" and join the party. Don't be the Milanese Da Vinci. - Fearless: Question the status quo; expect others to challenge your solution.
5.7 KiB
5.7 KiB
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