What is Good Design?

The criteria for 'good' design is dependant on the context, and the user.

Below is Dieter Rams' 10 principles of good design. Are these the only criteria you can think of?

Innovation: Good design pushes boundaries and introduces innovative solutions to problems.

Usefulness: Design should serve a purpose and enhance the usability of a product or space.

Aesthetic: Aesthetic considerations are vital; design should be visually appealing and evoke positive emotions.

Understandability: Users should easily comprehend the design and its functionalities.

Unobtrusiveness: Good design does not distract but enhances the user experience subtly.

Honesty: Design should be transparent, conveying its purpose and functionality honestly.

Longevity: Sustainable design considers the durability and longevity of products, minimizing environmental impact.

Environmental Friendliness: Responsible design considers the ecological consequences, emphasizing sustainability.

Functionality: Design must prioritize functionality, ensuring it effectively meets user needs.

Innovative Details: The success of design often lies in the thoughtful consideration of intricate details.

Personal Notions

Good design is inherently subjective and varies from person to person. It is influenced by individual tastes, preferences, and experiences, making it a deeply personal concept.

Contextual Influences

Design is contextual, meaning that what constitutes good design depends on the specific environment, culture, and purpose of the project. A design that works well in one context may not be suitable for another.

Political Dimensions

Design is intertwined with societal values and power structures. Political considerations in design involve addressing issues of accessibility, representation, and the impact of design decisions on diverse communities.

Universal and Culturally Specific Understandings

Universal Aspects: Certain design principles are universally appreciated, such as functionality, simplicity, and aesthetic appeal. These transcend cultural boundaries.

Culturally Specific Elements: Cultural context heavily influences design preferences. Colours, symbols, and materials may hold different meanings and significance in various cultures.

Principles of Inclusive or Universal Design

Equitable Use: Design accommodates people with diverse abilities, ensuring everyone can use it.

Flexibility in Use: Design provides various ways to use it, catering to a wide range of user preferences and abilities.

Simple and Intuitive Use: Good design is easy to understand, promoting a seamless user experience.

Perceptible Information: Design communicates information effectively, considering different sensory abilities.

Tolerance for Error: Design minimizes hazards and adverse consequences, forgiving of user errors.

Low Physical Effort: Design minimizes physical effort, promoting accessibility for all users.

Size and Space for Approach and Use: Adequate space is provided for various body sizes and mobility aids.

Read more about the Design Council UK's comprehensive understandings of how designers can apply inclusive design conceptions to their specific fields of work.

Circular & Sustainable Design Practices

Material Selection: Sustainable design considers the life cycle of materials, opting for eco-friendly and recyclable options.

Waste Reduction: Circular design minimises waste by considering the end-of-life disposal and recycling possibilities.

Energy Efficiency: Sustainable design prioritizes energy-efficient solutions to reduce environmental impact.

Ecosystem Considerations: Design decisions assess the broader ecological impact, preserving biodiversity and natural ecosystems.

Good Design is Invisible

Seamless Integration: Design seamlessly integrates into users' lives without drawing unnecessary attention.

Effortless Experience: Users interact with the design effortlessly, focusing on the intended purpose rather than the design itself.

User-Centred Approach: Invisible design prioritizes user needs and experiences, emphasizing usability over visual aesthetics.

Good design publications | Office of the Victorian Government ArchitectWe raise awareness of good design, its benefits, its value and how to achieve it. Find our good design publications.

Categories + Criteria | Good Design AwardsInformation on Categories and Criteria for the Good Design Awards. We encourage applicants to refer to the Good Design Criteria when writing their submissions. For any queries please contact us.

Australia by Design TV Show - Good DesignInnovation at its most simple is about bringing an idea to market, but the power comes when you link design to creativity which allows that innovation to answer a need we didn’t know we had. The second series of Network TEN’s highly popular Australia by Design: Innovations once again aims to bring design excellence into […]

31 Brilliant Ideas For A Better WorldPreview of the book that celebrates the fifth edition of What Design Can Do. Throughout the past 5 years of What Design Can Do, close to one hundred speakers from all continents and disciplines have taken to the stage to present cutting edge work, spanning the full spectrum of creative disciplines. We have gathered a selection of that work — 31 projects to be exact, each presented with images, an explanatory text, and a brief biography of the maker — into a handsome celebratory publication, called 31 Brilliant Ideas For a Better World. The book, first presented at WDCD2015, paints a picture of the incredible variety of What Design Can Do. It’s also something of an encyclopedia of ideas, highlighting where today’s vanguard designers are taking their profession as they work to solve seemingly unsolvable problems. Purchase it here: http://www.whatdesigncando.com/event/bookshop/

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