Web Aesthetics

The study and application of visual appeal in web design, encompassing how users perceive and respond to the visual qualities of websites. Research has identified two main dimensions of web aesthetics: classical aesthetics (characterised by simplicity, clarity, and orderliness) and expressive aesthetics (characterised by creativity, originality, and visual sophistication). Understanding web aesthetics is relevant to accessibility because of the persistent misconception that accessible websites must be visually bland. Research has shown that visual cleanness correlates with fewer accessibility barriers, while expressive designs are not inherently inaccessible.