By Mahmudul Gani Kanak, Principal Architect, Chinta Architects
In our work as architects and designers, we often find ourselves asking: what makes a design "good"? With time and experience, one insight has become increasingly clear to me—good design is like truth. It exists in its raw, unapologetic form, beyond personal likes or dislikes. You may resist it at first, but its functionality and honesty are undeniable.
When I speak of design, I refer to architecture, furniture, and all functional forms of design—creations meant to be used and lived with. These are not abstract art forms with value existing only in interpretation. They are tangible solutions to real problems, serving people in everyday life.
Functionality as Truth
Design that we use—whether a chair, a building, or a space—is defined by how well it serves its purpose. Functionality is the foundation of its truth. A well-designed chair must support the body comfortably; a well-designed house must shelter, inspire, and adapt to its users’ needs. If it fails to fulfill these fundamental purposes, it cannot be considered good design—no matter how visually striking it may be.
Good design, like truth, emerges from a clear understanding of purpose. It considers how people interact with the object or space. It aligns form and function seamlessly. When done right, it becomes so intuitive that we almost take it for granted. Think of a staircase that feels effortless to climb or a desk that intuitively supports your workflow. These are truths expressed through design.
Beyond Aesthetics: The Beauty of Use
It’s easy to confuse design with decoration, but good design goes deeper than aesthetics. While beauty enhances usability, it is not the end goal. Design is a craft rooted in solving problems. For example:
Architecture is not just about creating visually stunning buildings; it’s about constructing spaces where people can live, work, and thrive.
Furniture is not merely an object of admiration; it must also offer comfort, durability, and adaptability.
Aesthetic appeal enhances usability, but it must never overshadow the practical purpose of a design. In fact, the most beautiful designs are those that arise naturally out of their functionality. Their visual appeal is not an added layer but a result of their essential truth.
The Quiet Challenge of Good Design
What makes good design unsettling at times is its refusal to cater to superficial preferences. It often challenges our habits or preconceived notions, requiring us to adapt. A good chair might not look “traditional” but offers unparalleled comfort. A modern building might not fit the old idea of beauty but provides sustainable solutions for a changing climate.
At first glance, such designs might not align with our expectations. Yet, over time, they prove themselves indispensable. This is the quiet strength of good design: it doesn’t seek to please; it seeks to serve.
Truth in Every Scale
At Chinta Architects, we believe in applying this principle of design truth to every scale of our work. Whether we’re crafting a piece of furniture, designing an intimate home, or conceptualizing a large public building, we approach each challenge with the same intention: to uncover the design’s essential truth. We aim to create something that doesn’t merely look good but works beautifully, serves meaningfully, and lasts timelessly.
Living with Truthful Design
When you encounter a good design, you feel its presence in your life. A chair that invites you to sit and relax, a table that transforms your workspace, or a home that shelters you gracefully—all of these serve as reminders of how design can elevate the mundane into the extraordinary.
As users, we may not always notice good design immediately. It often operates in the background, quietly fulfilling its role. Yet, its absence is glaringly obvious. Bad design frustrates us, disrupts our routines, and hinders our lives. This contrast is where the truth of good design reveals itself most starkly.
Closing Thoughts
Good design is not subjective. Like truth, it holds its ground against fleeting opinions and passing trends. It serves its purpose with integrity, balancing function and beauty to create something both timeless and transformative.
At Chinta Architects, this philosophy shapes everything we do. Our goal is to create designs that endure—not because they conform to what’s popular, but because they express the truth of their function and the needs of the people they serve.
You may not always like what we design at first. But if it’s good design, it will earn its place in your life. And that’s the mark of something truly valuable.
