How to craft a visual aesthetic the right way

Balancing visual aesthetics and user experience (UX) is essential to creating effective digital products, as overly aesthetic designs can hinder usability. The text emphasizes the importance of validating problems and solutions through research before focusing on aesthetics, warning against relying on visually appealing but untested ideas often found on platforms like Dribbble. It suggests using product design frameworks to maintain a problem-focused approach and highlights the significance of user experience design, particularly in terms of usability and accessibility, as foundational to aesthetics. Effective design involves carefully selecting elements such as touch targets, typography, and color contrast, ensuring they enhance rather than detract from the product's functionality. Ultimately, the aesthetic layer should be seen as an expression of the underlying user experience, adding decorative elements only when necessary to elevate the product's value without overshadowing its utility.