One of the services I offer my clients is to review their websites, marketing, and ad copy. Whenever someone sends me a document to review, I often need to reformat it before I can review it. I fix the paragraph spacing, change the font, and correct the alignment. This reformatting makes it easier for me to focus on the substance as I review the content.
The functionality is aided by form.
Functional forms are liberating.
A good website design improves the user experience, makes it easier to find what you need, and more pleasant to engage with it. If you have ads popping up on your website, or the page constantly reloads, you won’t keep your reader engaged.
Good form supports functionality.
If your cup has a hole in it, it won’t hold water.
A defect in form inhibits functionality.
When you’re weightlifting or practicing yoga, or doing other movements, proper form supports functionality. If your alignment is off, or you don’t engage the right muscles and joints at the right time, you’ll inhibit functionality: you won’t be able to lift as heavy, run as far or as fast, or make your way through the poses.
It’s clear that the design of a system, the conditions under which we work — issues of form — have a bearing on functionality.
But the reverse is also true.
If the body can’t get into the right form or set-up, it’s usually because functionality is lacking in a different area. Restrictions in the ankles or the knees will prevent you from getting into your hip joint. A weak foot will impact the shoulder. In the body, everything is connected. If you take out one piece of the chain — inhibiting functionality — it will affect the form.
Defects in functionality impact form.
If you have a singing quartet and you remove one of the singers, it will affect the way the song sounds.
If you remove a member of a well-functioning team, you’ll impact the overall workflow and output of the team.
This creates a cycle:
Limits in functionality impact issues of form, which, in turn, impacts functionality.
Form and function are synergistic. We need both to be optimal if we want to have sustainable success. When one breaks down, the other will certainly follow.
When you see an issue with functionality, look for where the form is off.
When you see an issue with form, look for where the functionality is impeded.
Love it? Hate it? What do you think? Don't hold back...