Beauty is an important aspect of design, as it’s the reason that many people admire a piece of artwork or a building. It can also help attract customers, and has been linked to increased sales and brand loyalty.
The concept of beauty is complex, and has a long history in philosophy and art. The following outlines some of the main views and concepts related to it:
classical conception (see below)
This conception conceives beauty as the symmetry and proportion of parts and their relations in a whole object, and focuses on a harmonious form or pattern as the key to the recognition of beauty. It is a fundamental aspect of classical aesthetics and is often used to define beauty in art.
Its application to art was not universally accepted, however, and it was criticized by a variety of philosophers in the past, especially during the Renaissance and in the early modern period. For instance, in the 16th century, Berkeley argued that beauty is not simply an aesthetic quality: it should be considered in terms of its usefulness for practical purposes.
A symmetrical face is a good example of this. Symmetry, which is often a hallmark of attractive faces, has been shown to have an impact on dating and other social relationships. It’s also been shown to affect perceptions of a person’s seriousness in crimes and has even been linked to lower bail payments.
harmony between parts
A second, less common conception of beauty focuses on a more abstract idea of harmony between parts and is sometimes described as a kind of “golden section.” This conception, which dates from the fourth century BCE, explains the appreciation of art in terms of the proportions of different parts. It was a popular model for the study of art by sculptors, as the right proportions of different elements are thought to produce aesthetically pleasing results.
It can also be a way of distinguishing between different types of art, as the golden section can indicate which elements are most suitable for sculpture or painting. This was especially important in the Middle Ages, when different types of art were seen as being able to express different ideas, such as love and awe.
neo-Platonism
Neo-Platonism is an aesthetic approach that argues for the unity of all things and rejects any sort of distinction between art and science, as well as between fine art and craft. Neo-Platonism was a major influence on ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, but its treatment of beauty in terms of harmony between parts was particularly influential in the Renaissance and early modern period.
Plotinus
Neo-Platonism has an ecstatic treatment of beauty and is often associated with the experience of divine adoration, as in the case of Plotinus. In his treatise, Plotinus explains that the purpose of art is to induce wonder and awe: “Beauty must ever call out the spirit of wonderment, of delight and of adoration” (Plotinus 23, [Ennead I, 3]).
Kant
A modern view of beauty is often characterized by the disinterested pleasure of enjoying something in its purest form. This hedonistic view of beauty is sometimes criticized by those who believe that it is the result of a conscious and willful activity, as in the case of Kant. Others, such as Hegel and Nietzsche, believe that beauty is the product of a more profound and spiritual experience that is in no way reducible to the pleasures of physical pleasure.