utseende

Utseende is a Swedish noun meaning appearance or outward look. It refers to the visible aspects of something as perceived at a glance, including a person’s facial features, posture, clothing, and grooming, as well as the exterior design of objects, products, or buildings. The concept covers both static traits and changing presentation, since appearance can be altered through grooming, clothing, lighting, and context.

In humans, utseende influences first impressions and social interaction. It interacts with culture, fashion, and media representations, and can affect judgments of attractiveness, health, competence, and trustworthiness. Because these judgments are often automatic and biased, discussions of utseende intersect with topics like body image, self-presentation, and discrimination.

In design and architecture, utseende denotes the exterior appearance or visual language of a built form or product. It encompasses shape, color, materials, and detailing, and is a key element of aesthetics, branding, and user experience. Designers balance appearance with function, durability, and usability.

Linguistically, utseende is a generic term that can combine with adjectives to describe style or quality, such as ett modernt utseende (a modern appearance) or ett elegant utseende (an elegant appearance). The term thus functions across disciplines, from psychology and sociology to design and architecture, always tied to the perceptible presentation of an entity.