Difference in Design

Answers.com has a few views on what it means. I suppose a lot can be said and written about what design is and should be. However, as I progress at the the University it has become painfully apparent to me that there are many differences in design and how designers approach it. To me (this isn’t a fact, but opinion) there are two types of designs. First, you have functional design. Like the newly launched Google Analytics. Or the Amsterdam Schiphol site design. Especially the latter isn’t that beautiful to look at but it is really easy to find what you are looking for (which is what matters). Then, on the second place you have designs that looks good. Everything else, by default, is secondary to the visuals. No thought is given to the user, the interaction process, the usability or any of the other stuff that makes it easier to use. This is perhaps also the less serious design. It’s main virtue is its beauty. Apart from that it has very little to offer. Can’t functional be beautiful? Yes, off course, and it should. But functional should be, above all else, easy to use. When designing a functional site, don’t open up photoshop until you have clearly defined what a site should do.