A man-made thing that produces pleasure (and criticism) by…
“A man-made thing that produces pleasure (and criticism) by somehow taping into the order of the universe is beautiful. Making beautiful things makes our lives worthwhile. My teacher, and one of the founders of the Pratt industrial design program, Rowena Reed Kostellow, said, "Pure, unadulterated beauty should be the goal of civilization." From a pragmatic point of view, for something to be beautiful, it has to work. In order to make this idea clearer I have combined the ideas of beauty and function into one word: Beautility.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Proposes “Beautility” – beauty combined with function – as essential, arguing beauty must serve practical purpose.
In simple terms: Beauty must be functional to be true.
Key Takeaway
Design with purposeful beauty.
Themes
design
beauty
function
purpose
Mood
inspired
thoughtful
Type
design
philosophical
When to use this quote
- product design
- architecture
- industrial design
Key Concepts
aesthetics
pragmatism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance form and function?
- What makes design truly beautiful?
A Different Perspective
Pure beauty may lack utility.