Laws of UX
Aesthetic-Usability Effect
Users perceive aesthetically pleasing designs as more usable — even when they're not. Beautiful design builds tolerance for minor friction. But aesthetics can't compensate for fundamental accessibility failures.
In plain terms
People assume good-looking designs work better — but looks can't make up for things actually being unusable.
Why this matters
A polished design earns patience, but it can also mask real usability and accessibility problems in testing. Looks buy goodwill — they don't remove a barrier for someone who can't use the thing.