What makes great design?

FOR centuries great design was driven by classical interpretations of beauty - the aesthetics of form, proportion and balance. From Michelangelo's classical sculptures to the rise of design for manufacture, the loss of craft has forged new relationships. So, what makes good design in the age of machines and smart cities?

Good design is a delicate balance of ethos, execution and impact and it is always user-centred. The factors which influence the outcome of a designers' works are often complex and fraught with challenges from cost to scale. It is the role of the modern designer to analyse and distill all these complexities.

Simply put, a great design is one that synthesises all these competing factors into an effective and compelling solution that is beautifully executed. By that, I mean something which engages you emotionally, is aesthetically resolved, functionally amazing, easy to use, and sustainably considered - that's the baseline for great design.