When I began reading this article, I was confronted with the statement: “If we were to follow Norman’s description, our designs would all be usable, but they would be ugly.” Immediately, I felt confused and kind of defensive. I saw no where in Norman’s work any indications that designs would end up ugly. As I continued reading, I realized that this point is argued, which made me feel better. The idea that aesthetic and functionality should go hand in hand made sense to me, so I did not consider for a second that Norman’s work excluded aesthetic value because it was not important. I simply assumed, as he later points out, that aesthetic is not mentioned because it is not the primary argument.
This piece lends a focus on behavior rather than design in particular. The affect and behavior of humans can dramatically alter their relationship with a design or task. Negative affect can make easy tasks harder, while positive affect can make difficult tasks easier.
Understanding this aspect of behavior and affect, it is clear that usability and function should be in balance to aesthetic and beauty.