Gild Just One Lily at Smashing Magazine

The phrase “gild the lily” implies unnecessary ornamentation, the idea being that adorning a lily with superficial decoration only serves to obscure its natural beauty. I’ve written an article published over at Smashing Magazine to encourage you that a little touch of what might seem like unnecessary ornamentation in design is exactly what you need.

When I told my wife about the idea for the article, she said, “Oh, like when they fold your towel into a swan at a fancy hotel.” Exactly! In this example, the towel sculpture doesn’t make the room any more comfortable or clean, but it communicates a level of care that can make the room feel more comfortable and clean.

Read the whole article: Gild Just One Lily.

Thanks to the folks at Smashing Magazine for publishing it and for my colleagues at silverorange for the feedback and editing help.