How do you balance aesthetics with functionality in web design?

It's a balancing act to harmonize the feel and the functionality of a product. This is my approach when I'm designing a product solution: 1. First, I focus on functionality as it is the foundation of an enjoyable user experience. No matter how beautiful a UI is it can't make up for a bad UX. I also conduct user tests at this point to ensure the UX works as expected. 2. After I'm done with that, I look for ways to make it aesthetically pleasing, and add moments of delight if suitable. 3. Then I go back and forth on UX and UI focus until I feel it's well balanced, conducting user tests as much as needed to validate everything. 4. And finally, I ensure the solution aligns with the rest of the product as a cohesive user experience builds trust and supports the user.