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But what about making a site that's pleasant to use. It might take more clicks to get somewhere but the style and experience is better. Sites like HN and the Drudge Report convey the information effectively but they are not necessarily as pleasant to use. Is designing a site like designing clothes? If so, function is definitely not the only consideration.

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Design will always be a blend of form and function. With an optimal goal of creating a product that is aesthetically pleasing and easy to use.

I would error on the side of making something more useable than beautiful. If something is ugly, but still usable, it has value. If something looks good and is not usable, it doesn't have much value. Unless it's Art or something that is only meant to be looked upon.

One can argue that if offering a nice user experience is more important that the content itself, this is the goal of your website.

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