The first dimension we explore continues to be a topic of heated debates among designers, critics, and the public. The question at the center of the debate is how important is design to the overall experience? Or, in other words, which is more important--form or function?
This is of course a "chicken or egg" kind of a question, one for which right or wrong are contextual to each specific instance. But it is the process of trying to answer the question that is tremendously important, because the debate challenges accepted views of design's mission and principles, and fuels the advancement of theoretical and practical topics across all design disciplines. It is an interesting dilemma, but first, to some basic definitions:
- Function: It is about how well does a product perform what it is supposed to do. Experiencing a function is often associated with the gap between our expectations from the product, and its actual performance. For example, a phone is meant to enable a user...