How aesthetics influence our world

Not too long ago, consumers would mostly be concerned with functionality and usability. A product had to do its job, and users wouldn’t be too preoccupied with how a product looked. Luckily for designers, the consumer culture has changed immensely, and products are expected to function properly by default. Nowadays, product design is extremely important, and it’s safe to say that literally everything around us has been designed. Now, some products may be designed better than others, but they were all designed nonetheless. 

 

A few of us are perfectly happy buying a simple couch that does its job, namely: providing a seating area that is preferably comfortable. But let’s be honest: most people select their couch based on a desired look. We have our preferences when it comes to the color, the texture, the style, the size and even the brand. Moreover, we even truly believe that the better the design is, the better the product must be. It’s called aesthetic-usability and it’s why you’re likely to believe that, say, the latest iPhone is a better product than a less sleek-designed competitor may be. 

 

And that’s not a bad thing. It allows us to define who we are and what we want to signify. It allows us to think about our identity and how we wish our products to communicate that to the world. It gives us a sense of self, and to many people, how they style their home is their way of expressing themselves. 

 

At Stone & Palm, we truly believe in the power objects hold to influence our state of mind and well-being. It’s why we focus on quality rather than quantity, and it’s why we make it our mission to provide a platform for those who mind their surroundings and what environment they choose to be in. Because at the end of the day, whether we like it or not: we are what we buy.