Andrew Swartz describes a study in which the tension between aesthetic appeal and usability was made very apparent. Must it always be the case? Or is there some way to make truly usable products really attractive, too?
I’m wondering how closely this tension parallels the once-perceived situation between standards-based design and aesthetics (put to rest in part because of projects like the CSS Zen Garden and the ReUseit competition). If a solution could be found there, is there not hope for one in the usability arena?