When people ask me what I do for a living, I usually tell them I'm a graphic and web designer, which, most assume it's about making things look attractive and hoping people will notice. I guess saying "I'm a graphic and web designer" is much easier than saying "I visually manage the balance between form and function to convey messages and emotions."
Being a designer is not about making things look good. Sure, it's about 50% of the equation, but designing is more about recognizing what needs to be communicated and the proper way to convey that communication in a well-thought out manner to get the message of the project across to audiences while evoking an underlying emotion to that audience.
The true test of design is evaluating it's form and function. The fluidity of the two should be seamless and feel like air. Design shouldn't be forced or distracting. Design shouldn't be so beautiful that it doesn't communicate what it should, unless that's the goal of the piece. But in the ever-changing world of marketing, web, e-commerce and sales, making something functional and beautiful to look at should have an even balance between the two.
Jeffrey Zeldman, renowned designer, says, "Content precedes design. Design in the absence of content is not design, it' decoration." Which, I fully agree. Design without substance is merely a distraction and does nothing to communicate or provide anything to the audience. Design is tough. Real tough. The challenge isn't about making things look beautiful, its about finding the balance between form and function and understanding how to speak to people the right way.
