Came back to an interesting issue of Metropolis magazine, which I always enjoy.
"What is good design?" Peter Hall asks in his introduction. "The 20th-century definition of 'good design' was driven primarily by form. Today the stakes are too high, and the world too complex, for a superficial response."
The magazine breaks down good to 10 components, and each topic is explored by a different author.
GOOD IS SUSTAINABLE
GOOD IS ACCESSIBLE
GOOD IS FUNCTIONAL
GOOD IS WELL MADE
GOOD IS EMOTIONALLY RESONANT
GOOD IS ENDURING
GOOD IS SOCIALLY BENEFICIAL
GOOD IS BEAUTIFUL
GOOD IS ERGONOMIC
GOOD IS AFFORDABLE
Thoughtful issue. I think the dialogue about what is good advertising/communication design could be this rich. It's going that direction.