Parsons - Layout Settings

Yuting Zhuang

Yuting Zhuang

Error as Aesthetic

Error as Aesthetic

Error as Aesthetic explores the beauty of digital glitches—those unexpected pixel distortions that occur when a computer malfunctions. Drawing inspiration from early screen errors and system crashes, the site creates an immersive visual experience that turns technical failure into aesthetic expression.

Built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and designed in Figma, the website pulls content from Are.na channel as its APl. lt organizes the content into five categories—image, quote, link, text, and audio—each represented by a primary (RGB) color. These colorful blocks resemble tiny screen pixels, scattered randomly across the interface.

The experience begins with a retro Windows 95–style popup that introduces the theme. A classic Windows wallpaper serves as the background image, reinforcing the nostalgic digital mood. Every 20 seconds, the screen briefly goes black—an intentional interruption meant to simulate the feeling of a system error and immerse users in the aesthetic of malfunction.

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