A few words on behalf of aesthetics . Because we are not machines aesthetics matter. We are thoughtful rational creatures, and we are emotional irrational creatures. To the degree that we do not function on hard, cold, logic, our media should not be hard, cold, and ugly. We must realize that aesthetic elegance is not a trivial afterthought, it is the result of a careful refinement that reveals simplicity and power.
Aesthetic elegance is central to inspiration, motivation, and excellence.
Graphics that merely capture information are not useful. They must also capture people's attention and engage their imaginations. Useful graphics are those that people actually read. They are those that people remember. Aesthetics matter because we remember the elegant and forget the bland.