Beautiful interfaces feel easier to use. That sentence probably sounds obvious, but the research behind it is more surprising than the conclusion. In 1995, Hitachi researchers Masaaki Kurosu and Kaori Kashimura ran a study with 252 participants evaluating 26 variations of ATM interfaces. Interfaces that were aesthetically designed were consistently rated as easier to use, even when the underlying functionality was identical. Beauty was being interpreted as usability.