64. Aesthetics vs Functionality with Scott Mackie

How do we reconcile the often conflicting demands of aesthetics and functionality?

This week, I had the pleasure of chatting with Scott Mackie, a seasoned design professional whose career trajectory has taken him from mechanical engineering to leading design teams at some of the most innovative companies.

Scott shared his journey and how it shaped his understanding of the critical balance between aesthetics and functionality in design. We dug into the importance of early feedback in the design process, the significant impact of aesthetics on user perception, and how to approach design research and prototyping effectively.

Scott’s experiences at IDEO and his work in various industries provided a rich backdrop for our discussion, offering listeners an in-depth look at the complexities and nuances of modern design practices.

So, if you’re keen on mastering the delicate balance between beauty and functionality in your designs or just curious about the brains behind great UX work, this episode is for you.

Topics:
• 07:54 – The value of early feedback
• 12:27 – Aesthetics do matter
• 18:37 – balancing the aesthetics and the research
• 24:42 – Desgining in high fidelity masks defects
• 27:59 – Be thoughtful about the outcome of the meeting
• 29:11 – The value of the right research
• 36:46 – Internal networking to find the right people to talk to
• 45:21 – The value of aesthetics beyond UI design
• 50:18 – Everything we’re talking about is hard. Don’t beat yourself up

Helpful Links:
• Connect with Scott on LinkedIn
• scottmackie.com

Scott Mackie
Product Design & Innovation Leader

About Scott

Originally from New Zealand, Scott started his career as a mechanical engineer, designing medical devices to treat respiratory diseases and then diabetes. He spent 5 years in the UK including a Masters at the Judge Business School of Cambridge University studying Technology Policy as well as a stint as a management consultant. Then he moved to IDEO’s Cambridge, Massachusetts office. During his nearly 6-year stint at IDEO, he broadened his skills to include design research, digital design, UX design, and design leadership. Since leaving IDEO, Scott has built and led design teams from 6 people up to 90 people at Quanttus, a small bleeding edge wearables startup; athenahealth, a $15 Billion dollar SaaS company providing the primary daily tool for clinicians across the country, and most recently at Indigo Ag, a unicorn startup creating financial incentives for sustainable agriculture.

Connect with Scott on LinkedIn

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