Usability News has tested the correlation between perceived usability and aesthetics.
The results showed that when the test participant where asked to predict the usability of a site, they ranked the site with balanced colours and layout highest.
However, user satisfaction reported after the sessions were related to successful navigation more than aesthetic appearance.
Links:
- The article Aesthetics and Usability: A Look at Color and Balance

Henrik Olsen
- February 12, 2003
See also: Emotional design (10) Visual design (19) Research (129)