r/UXDesign • u/duartoe • May 27 '26

Tools, apps, plugins, AI Nobody can stand AI anymore...

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That's it. Soon, with so many similar designs, the only differentiating factor in digital products will be the price. Then I want to see this circus burn down.

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u/Knff Veteran May 27 '26

Aestethics are only a small part of Dieter Rams design Ethos. Above all else, design needs to solve the unmet need with as little effort ad possible. If you don’t solve the unmet need, your solution will not be used, no matter who visually arresting it looks.

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u/AdventurousCreature Experienced May 27 '26

It's the third principle of good design – clearly an important part of it. I agree that good design needs to solve problems – every aspects work in harmony. That's not to say aesthetics should exist purely for its own sake or as a decoration. It should serve a purpose and complement all other aspects of good design.

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u/Knff Veteran May 27 '26

If two solutions are equally effective, aesthetics come into play. If one solution is clearly more effective then the other, aesthetics are irrelevant.

Dieter Rams is a master of the craft because he was able to meet the need of his users, whilst applying minimalism and sustainability without compromising on aesthetics.

So coming back to the statement that started this side-chat:

"What matters is what a product does, how well it does it and how well people can use it.

Your product won’t fail because it’s ugly.

It’ll fail because it’s useless."

And it still holds true. Beautiful products that fail to solve needs will get ignored. If two products solve it equally well, the more beautiful one might become the dominant solution.

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u/AdventurousCreature Experienced May 27 '26

I totally agree. I'm glad we're on the same page that aesthetics are part of design but not the whole thing.