I've gotten quite irritated seeing all the people saying generation 1 had the "most elite" pokemon design.

I think a thread needs to be made which explains what is and isn't a good pokemon design.

Why is blastoise loved, but Chesnaught is hated?

Why do people praise froakie, but mock and dismiss the new starters?

Is there something I'm missing here? I'm not sure about everyone else, but the only pokemon I truly dislike is the new pink bear(which doesn't feel like pokemon). Most of the pokemon we have gotten match the theme- monsters. Personally, I think the majority of Pokemon we've received are great. There are around...say, 5 pokemon I am 'meh' with, and 1 pokemon I seriously dislike(again, the bear).

I'm not a super defensive fanboy(so please don't think im flaming). I just want to see the expectations people have for pokemon. 

Pokemon has the most consistently immaculate creature designs I have ever seen in any franchise ever. They're all good.

I consider what you describe to be an immature phase of Poke-nonfandom that some people never grow out of, the same way "all regions in one game," "genwunner," "Pokemon MMO," and "trubbish/vanilluxe/voltorb/any inanimate object Pokemon are 'bad designs'" are all phases of Pokemon ignorance.

The quality of Pokemon designs in these games is completely subjective, as far as I can see. But people generally tend not to like Pokemon that look ugly/plain/ridiculous/uninspired to them, obviously.

Well, early gen Pokemons were simple by aesthetics, but attractive and creative. Charizard? A fire dragon. Venausaur? A dinosaur plant. Snorlax? A giant fat bear (right?). And well, kids like that. Everyone likes that.

So as time went on, the designs got more complex and out-of-nowhere. Like most gen 5 Pokemon. They're not bad by any means, but just read they're names. They're hard to recognize. Complex. That's not a bad thing inherently, but it's difficult to appreciate.

That's why you see an ugly fish get hate (even though it's meant to look ugly), but a lazy koala get love. Or a dog. Heck, the Kimi-something that got announced today is getting love, even though it's just a lazy excuse to re-use the Pikachu design. It's creative, but simple.

Only good Pokemon is a dead Pokemon.

All Hail Shoe!

Yo hershel_layton. I'm really happy for you; I'mma let you finish. But generation 1 pokemon is the best pokemon of all time!

charizard and  mewtwo ftw.

Generation 1 doesn't have swampert :P

Not

A pokémon can be good without beeing GOOD LOOKING. just look at the Smogon OU tier, there's many pokémon that aren't that popular for their appearance but are extre popular in battles since they are really strong...

Also Blaziken is the best example of a good looking Pokémon

There's usually a reason for a Pkmn's design. What I like about this is that it applies and/or reference real world concepts. Religion, environmental, elemental, science, etc. Whether it's intentional or not, players will have a conncection to any Pkmn due to these things. Of course, designs can help entice players such as getting a Froakie to evolve it to a Greninja, which has become one of the most popular Pkmn right now. But designs aren't the end all be all. Sometimes we just need to keep an open mind.