Measure of the Aesthetic Aspects of Design

One of the most difficult element to objectify, that means “to be measured regardless of the observer”, is the aesthetic parameter or design of an object, both positive as advantages or negative as defects.
To determine the acceptability or non-acceptability of an aesthetic defect must not depend on the sensitivity of the person who detects it.
Here is a simple method to give evidence and objective measure to the aesthetic defects and imperfections.

This simple method for measuring an aspect or parameter such as the aesthetic defect of an object is based on the allocation of the imperfection weight, according to the type of defect, its size and the object area in which is located.

With this system it is possible to objectify a parameter, which cannot be measured dimensionally, regardless of the person who detects it.

The method is based on the principle adopted even by those who deal with security to assign the risk to an event.

Basically, just follow the following 3 steps.

1. Divide the object in areas or parts
   The object must first be divided into the three-dimensional areas that characterize it.
   Then, a weight, which ranges from 1 to the area less important, up to 5for the most important area, must be assigned to each of these parts. For example, if we have to deal with an ornament, we could identify and “weigh” the following areas:

   upper zone	5
   frontal zone	5
   lateral zone	3
   lower zone	1

   Or, for a household appliance we could identify:

   side/front zone	5
   inner zone	1
   lower zone	2
   upper zone	2

2. Define the possible aesthetic defects and assign a gravity
   Divided the object into parts that features it a list of possible aesthetic defects must be done and a severity value ranging from 1 to 4 must be assigned to each one.
   Therefore the value 1 represents a minimum defect (or a minimum value), while the value 4 represents a large defect, such as:

   matte surface	3
   small size spot (diameter <1 mm)	1
   large spot size (size> 3 mm)	4
   presence of micro pitting	2
   different shades of color	3
   corrugated surface	2

3. Define an acceptable range of the defect
   A range of values that represents the acceptability of the defect (or the value of its advantage) must be defined.
   We can define the following scale:
   • from 1 to 10: acceptable defect (or minimum value)
   • from 11 to 15: down to the limit of acceptability
   • 16 to 20: unacceptable defect (or high value).

Giving these tables to the persons responsible to control the aesthetic quality of the objects, and so to look for any defects or advantages, we will be able to obtain from all of them the same evaluation for an identical defect or advantage, eliminating in this way the subjective evaluation influenced by the sensitivity of the individual.

Application examples:

Suppose that the pot being analyzed presents a large size clump (severity 4) on the frontal area (weight 5).
This defect would have a weight whose value is: 4 x 5 = 20
Thus, in our scale of values, the defect has a weight greater than 15, then it is not acceptable.
Or, the microwave oven has a different color shade (gravity 3) in the lateral part (weight 5) therefore has a defect so cataloged: 3 x 5 = 15
In this case the defect has weight 15 and would be at the limit of acceptability.
Similarly one can proceed with the evaluation of the objects advantage, thus assigning a positive character to higher values.