Good design, is good business
(2 - 3 minute read)
Thomas J. Watson famously said, “Good design, is good business”. He wasn’t wrong. Any business that puts time and consideration into implementing good design for their products, branding and marketing will most definitely see it pay dividends further down the line.
The problem is that it’s not always easy to see a direct ROI from good design.
Growing businesses are often cash-strapped and not so inclined to part with the necessary funds to implement this vital visual support. Understandable as this is, it’s important to note the direct and indirect benefits that good design can have upon a business from brand awareness right through to conversions and scalability.
In a study of 1,500 businesses by the Design Council, 250 said design had a direct, positive impact on their business’ performance and that each £100 spent on design increased turnover by £225. And all of a sudden, those impressive graphics and carefully considered compositions don’t seem such a waste of money, do they?
How does design affect your business?
First impressions
They matter. We’re all taught this from an early age, and it’s especially true when trying to launch a new business into a competitive market. You need to make an impact, and you won’t do that with a badly designed logo and inconsistent, unprofessional branding. Attention spans are decreasing and good, standout branding is vital to attract the eyes of the scrolling generation.
Creating effective marketing materials that work seamlessly to convey your message will put your brand out in front.
A breath of fresh air
If you’re launching into a particularly saturated market you’ll need unique visual marketing to help you stand out from the crowd. Your USPs and product offering is one thing, but how you visually package them up could mean the difference between sales or no sales, clients or no clients. Be a breath of fresh air in your industry by harnessing the power of design to effectively communicate what makes you better than your competitors.
The conversion generator
“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” – Steve Jobs.
If your business website, for example, is well designed both in a visual and user experience regard, your business will generate far more conversions and revenue than one that skipped the design stage and rushed straight to market. Customers are far more likely to give you their money if your site looks good, AND works.
It can be tempting to cut corners to reduce costs at the beginning but this will only hurt your brand in the long-term. Try to avoid making the same, common web design mistakes that so many businesses do.
Buy cheap, buy twice
We’re not saying that you need to spend astronomical amounts of money to get amazing design services, because you really don’t. What we are saying is, if you skip the design process or pay your best friend’s nephew to knock a logo together for you, you are more than likely going to have to admit defeat a few months down the line and get a professional design overhaul.
Talent
If you’re ready to start growing your team good design will help to communicate your vision to potential employees. And, talented individuals that share your aspirations will be more likely to apply.
Investing in good design early on will do your business no end of favours. High quality graphic design and visuals that can stand the test of time will continue to support your business through growth. It’s all about the long game.
