Poll: Can a design be “correct”?

Ben Moss.
April 29, 2016
Poll: Can a design be “correct”?.

Design is about problem solving, whether that be visual, structural, conceptual, or any other ‘…al’. If there’s a problem, it follows that there is a solution.

When Steve Jobs hired design legend Paul Rand to design the brand identity for what would be named (by Rand) NeXT computers, he was expecting a few options. Instead, Rand delivered a highly detailed explanation of a single solution. Famously, according to Jobs, Rand said:

“I will solve your problem for you and you will pay me”

However, Rand followed that by saying: “If you want options go talk to other people.” Acknowledging that although Rand had delivered his “correct” answer, it wasn’t necessarily the correct answer.

Rand didn’t have the same access to user testing that we enjoy. The principle of A/B testing tells us that different solutions can be measured against one another, provided we have a definite goal. The practicality of A/B testing is questionable, but in laboratory conditions, we are able to prove that one solution outperforms another; test enough solutions and you will eventually find the “correct” answer.

However, design doesn’t exist in a laboratory, it reflects its context. Subjective viewpoints of different users may mean that the “correct” design for one, is “incorrect” for another. Even more than different users, different stakeholders commonly have different motivations, meaning that not only the context of the design, but the problem its designed to solve is frequently changing.

If a design brief is a problem, can it have a “correct” solution?

Ben Moss

Ben Moss has designed and coded work for award-winning startups, and global names including IBM, UBS, and the FBI. When he’s not in front of a screen he’s probably out trail-running.

Read Next

30 Most Exciting New Tools for Designers, 2023

As we near the end of 2023, we wanted to take a look back over all the tools we collected over the past year, to pick…

3 Essential Design Trends, December 2023

While we love the holidays, too much of a seasonal theme can get overwhelming. Thankfully, these design trends strike a…

10 Easy Ways to Make Money as a Web Designer

When you’re a web designer, the logical way to make money is designing websites; you can apply for a job at an agency,…

The 10 Most Hated Fonts of All Time

Remember when Comic Sans wasn’t the butt of the jokes? Long for the days when we actually enjoyed using the Impact…

15 Best New Fonts, November 2023

2023 is almost over, and the new fonts are still coming thick and fast. This month, we’ve found some awesome variable…

Old School Web Techniques Best Forgotten

When the web first entered the public consciousness back in the 90s, it was primarily text-based with minimal design…

20 Best New Websites, November 2023

As the nights draw in for the Northern hemisphere, what better way to brighten your day than by soaking up some design…

30 Amazing Chrome Extensions for Designers and Developers

Searching for a tool to make cross-platform design a breeze? Desperate for an extension that helps you figure out the…

Exciting New Tools for Designers, November 2023

We’ve got a mix of handy image helpers, useful design assets, and clever productivity tools, amongst other treats. Some…

The Dangers of Doomscrolling for Designers and How to Break Free

As a creative professional, navigating the digital realm is second nature to you. It’s normal to follow an endless…

From Image Adjustments to AI: Photoshop Through the Years

Remember when Merriam-Webster added Photoshop to the dictionary back in 2008? Want to learn how AI is changing design…

3 Essential Design Trends, November 2023

In the season of giving thanks, we often think of comfort and tradition. These are common themes with each of our three…