It is very typical for students in K-12 art education to study aesthetics based on artistic objects. Artistic objects, however, need not be the sole source for aesthetic investigation. In this article, the author discusses the use of designed objects such as chairs, cars, and bridges in the discussion of aesthetic concepts. Students, as consumers and possible future designers, should be exposed to the concept of design as functional and as an extension of human capabilities that allows people to expand their physical limitations. Design function and the integration of aesthetic factors enrich life; they support the values of a community or an individual by making tangible examples of ideas and beliefs of the community or individual. The framework of the seven components of design discussed in this article may be used to teach about aesthetic impressions, semantic interpretations, and symbolic associations. Aesthetic choices are unspoken powerful communication tools that relate messages to others through the senses. Creating an awareness of the influences that play on people's thinking and on their decision making process may guide them to make purposeful choices to improve the quality of their lives.