Expressive Aesthetics

A dimension of visual aesthetics in web design characterised by creativity, originality, visual sophistication, and design ingenuity. Identified by Lavie and Tractinsky as one of two main dimensions of perceived web aesthetics, expressive designs tend to be more complex and visually rich than classical designs. Research has shown that expressive aesthetics do not have a significant correlation with accessibility barriers, meaning that visually creative and sophisticated websites are not inherently less accessible. This finding is important for countering the misconception that accessible web design must sacrifice visual appeal or creative expression.