Aesthetic-Usability Effect

People tend to see attractive designs as easier to use.

Why it matters

Good looks can create goodwill, and also hide problems during testing.

How to use it

  • Polish the first impression.
  • In tests, watch what people do, not just what they say.
  • Do not let visual polish replace usability work.

Example

People may forgive a small glitch in a beautiful app, and report that it worked well.

Go deeper: Laws of UX