Definition

The Academic American Encyclopedia says: "Aesthetics is the branch of philosophy that aims to establish the general principles of art and beauty."

The word "aesthetic" has broadly come to indicate sensibilities of perception, be they physical or mental.

A digital aesthetic acknowledges the imprint and residue of digital/electronic technology on its creative product. A discussion of digital aesthetics would seek to explain and evaluate the creative product of digital technology by examining its various factors/relationships in their appropriate contexts, and by identifying that which is unique to digital artworks/processes.

"Aesthetics" are some generally agreed upon ideas about what makes effective communication in a given medium. Establishing an aesthetical sensibility requires that you look beyond your own personal likes and dislikes to evaluate a work within the medium in which it is presented.

Web Aesthetics are some generally agreed upon ideas about what makes effective communication in a web site. These ideas are constantly evolving and are employed to make navigation simple, and information easy to find. As a digital medium, Web Aesthetics encompass those ingredients that make digital media unique.

Aesthetical Questions to Consider:

What purpose does this Web site serve? To whom is this site targetted?

Any kind of publication needs appropriate graphics, appropriate information, and appropriate lay out. Consider the gestalt theory of visual perception. Is the information easy to absorb, does the site adhere to the principles of proximity and similarity?

What goals is the Web site going to achieve? And is there a method for determining if the goal has been accomplished?

What are the unique aspects of the web and how do you handle those issues, given the characteristics of this medium? How does the site take advantage of the unique qualities of digital media?

 

Web Aesthetics is more than visual design