Need typology

Discover the thirteen fundamental human needs

Home House of Needs 13 Chairs About Colophon

Beauty

Experiencing beauty, elegance, and sensory harmony in your daily life, rather than experiencing ugliness, chaos, or distaste.

Beauty is more than just visual appeal—it's about experiencing harmony, elegance, and sensory richness in your environment and daily life. When this need is met, you feel uplifted and inspired by what surrounds you.

This need manifests in countless ways. It might be the satisfaction of organizing your desk so everything has its proper place, the pleasure of wearing clothes that feel just right, or the way a well-designed app makes you smile because it's so intuitive and clean. Beauty can be found in the smell of fresh coffee, the sound of rain on windows, or the way light hits a wall at sunset.

Some people seek beauty through art galleries and concerts, while others find it in a perfectly arranged dinner table or a garden they've carefully tended. The common thread is that these experiences create a sense of aesthetic satisfaction that goes deeper than mere function.

When beauty is absent from our lives—when we're surrounded by chaos, ugliness, or sensory overload—we often feel drained or agitated without knowing why. Conversely, moments of beauty can instantly shift our mood and remind us that life contains wonder worth appreciating.

Sub-needs

Experiencing order and balance

Experiencing elegance and refinement

Enjoying artistic and cultural expressions

Experiencing grandeur and splendor.

Needs on a Desert Island

Imagine you're shipwrecked on a desert island with a group of survivors. You're responsible for fulfilling everyone's fundamental needs to create a thriving community.

As the years pass, you notice your islanders spending more time on seemingly non-essential activities. They arrange shells in patterns around shelters and transplant flowers from around the island into the community’s main square. Eventually, they build a bench at the western edge of the island, positioned for the most stunning sunset view. Each evening, islanders gather there, finding a contentment that practical provisions alone cannot provide.

Fundamental Needs in Overview

What does beauty look like in the House of Needs? Click the image to find out!

Is it possible to design a chair that specifically fulfills the need for beauty? Click the image to find out!