In This reading Steven Heller speaks about unconventional design. Heller describes the backlash that conventional designers throw towards designers that purposely break design rules in order to distinguish themselves from other designers and creating new design. The author states that these designs are fueled mostly by instincts rather than intelligence and discipline instead of an equal balance between these elements. He then proceeds to state that these unconventional designs tend to result in confusion.
I believe that design is effective as long as it draws out the desired emotions from its audience. Classic design standards or rules were created as a blueprint to guide newer designers, not confine them into a tight boring box. A designer should be able to express him or herself in any way that they seem fit to send the intended message across even if that means breaking a few rules. I think a design is ugly when there is not message, or the message is to hard to figure out.
Akeem's Blog 