Science or Art? Evaluating Websites

I enjoyed this week's assignment tremendously and yet it caused me to pause and ponder some things. The course readings did a thorough job of explaining the elements of a good website. Some had checklists, others had bulleted points to consider. It all seemed very scientific-like. If you do "A" and then add in element "B" it will = a good site. The part I found tricky was verbally expressing the visual design. That is where the artistry comes in. I found myself using a term such as, "It was pleasing to the eye"......that's not exactly what you'd call quantitative data. The actual design of any website is an art form. I don't think it can be explicitly taught. You just have to know what looks right. Sure you can teach elements such as balance, texture, line usage, etc. But in the end, it all comes down to having an eye for the layout. And that, my friends, is art.