The sentence “After all, attractive things work better,” which the author repeats several times throughout the essay, resonated with me, cementing the notion that aesthetics should never be compromised in favor of usability. It seems that humans inherently seek out aesthetic objects. Many items, not necessarily usable, exist solely because they are beautiful in their own way—for instance, paintings, statues, and interior designs. In my view, aesthetics is becoming a trend. One example I can cite is the aesthetic cafes, known as “gamsung cafes,” in South Korea. These cafes are designed to entice people into taking pictures, thanks to their stunning interiors. Initially, I couldn’t understand the appeal of these places. However, upon visiting one of the famous “gamsung cafes,” I found myself enjoying the atmosphere and the emotions it evoked. This experience helped me realize that aesthetics can indeed touch people’s emotions.
This reflection also brought to mind the reasons behind the iPhone’s rising popularity. Usability is, of course, crucial. When comparing the two most popular phone brands, Samsung and Apple, I view Apple as the representative of aesthetics, while Samsung champions usability. While older generations might prefer Samsung for its user-friendliness, many from the newer generations opt for Apple. A YouTube video interviewing people about their choice of iPhones surprised me. Their answers were strikingly simple: “It’s beautiful.” That’s it. I believe this sentiment drives the current generation and represents a prevailing trend. As a Business Major, this reading underscored the ongoing trend that “After all, attractive things work better.”