Aesthetic–usability Effect
The tendency for users to perceive attractive designs as more usable, even when they're not. Visual appeal creates a halo that makes people more forgiving of flaws.
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Origin
First documented by Masaaki Kurosu and Kaori Kashimura in a 1995 study of ATM interfaces at Hitachi. They found that users rated aesthetically pleasing layouts as easier to use, even when the underlying functionality was identical. The finding has since been confirmed across software, product, and web design — and is closely related to the Halo Effect.
Updated February 22, 2026