Style

The style of a design can make it feel like it belongs in a time and place. Styling can also cause a design to look foreign and awkward. For a product, service, or system to be successful, its style should match its intended context. If a 1980s-themed t-shirt design is effectively styled, it will feel like a retro version of the 80s. If the 1980s styling is not well-executed, the shirt will look like a tired version of the 80s—not a cool retro style but an embarrassing knock-off. Details define a design outcome’s style. They set the way the design “feels.”