Thoughtful design is necessary for a business to grow to the next level.
“Most people make the mistake of thinking design is what it looks like. People think it’s this veneer — that the designers are handed this box and told, ‘Make it look good!’ That’s not what we think design is. It’s not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”
— Steve Jobs
So why is it that good design is invisible? Despite that, there’s an ever-present lack of awareness on the design’s impact on businesses. Design is frequently seen as something that’s either too expensive or easy enough to be done in-house by a non-designer. The digital tools of the twentieth century have provided a false sense of design ability. Behemoth companies with huge budgets like Coca Cola spend about 4 billion dollars on design per year. One billion of that sum is spent in the United States. So, if all the corporate giants are in on the secret — why doesn’t it seem as valuable to everyone else?
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Good design isn’t always invisible.
If you’re involved in the creative industry, you’ve probably heard of the phrase “good design is invisible.” If it doesn’t ring familiar, no worries, we’ll explain. It means that when something is well-designed, you don’t notice it’s there and how easy it is to use. For instance, think about what the visual interface on our smartphones looks like. We use it every day and don’t take the time to notice the design itself. The designs are smart, clean, and easy to navigate.
A quick Google search will tell you the phrase was intended for UX (User Experience Design). The full quote reads, “Good design, when it’s done well, becomes invisible. It’s only when it’s done poorly that we notice it”.
Example of a smartphone interface — something that we often forget is design. iPhone X prototypes by Jae Jeong [x]
Good design should be easy to understand
The saying is referring to two things: the experience of interacting with a design, and the process of designing it. Let’s take websites as an example; users will take notice of the design if it’s broken, slow, or annoying to navigate. A good design process will strike the perfect balance between aesthetics and functionality. Good design is intended to be simple for the end-user to understand and interact with. And because people mostly interact with the end product, it’s hard to understand the complexities of what goes into a good design.
Simple is easy to understand, but hard to come up with.
Consider the font on highway signs (or the typeface, if you’re a stickler for terminology). Now imagine if every single sign was designed using Papyrus.
Obviously, this would be pretty awful for legibility when driving at 50 miles per hour. Its thin, distressed letterforms do no justice for reading at a distance, or while moving at fast speeds. You probably can see the font in your mind’s eye. The signs are clean and comfortable to read.
Precisely what they are designed to do. The United States Federal Highway Administration developed all the signs you see on the roads, and the font is called Highway Gothic. Since it was first released in 1948, it has gone through years of edits and updates, backed up by research. Each letter and number was meticulously designed and tested for maximum readability at high speeds and distances.
Simply put, the goal wasn’t to make something purely visually beautiful; it was about something that would enhance our overall quality of life and safety. Good design doesn’t necessarily mean a work of art. Sometimes it is just delivering a good user experience using sound design principles.
Design with Excellence.
Like any other field of expertise, experience, and talent matter. It’s the same reason why we rely on plumbers to help us out when it hits the fan. We leave that to the experts because they know what they’re doing. But fundamentally, designers are no different. Businesses should think of good designs like plumbing. You have to have it!
Design touches most aspects of a business — from branding to web design and beyond. When a Creative Agency works on branding projects or a brand refresh, there is an extensive amount of research that goes into the entire process. We do everything from a deep dive into our client’s company and culture to competitor analysis. And that’s before the pencil hits the paper. Remember our Highway Gothic example?
Design is meant to make it easier for the users — that’s just how it works.
We might be able to say part of the reason why good design is invisible is, ironically, by design. The end-user doesn’t want or need to be overwhelmed by what went into its creation. However, it’s our job to help clients understand the process and the time it takes for a thoughtful campaign.
We have to create something that’s going to make an emotional connection with the targeted audience and get them excited about our client’s brand. One of our main goals as a Creative Agency is to maintain brand consistency at the highest level. Good design can give you confidence you’ve never had.
Businesses that invest in design thrive.
Even if your customers don’t need to be invested in the details, all businesses should. Companies that recognize the value that design brings their customers will always stand head and shoulder above their competition. The window of opportunity to capture a potential customer or client is limited — so making an impression that counts is critical.
Having good design gives you a proven competitive edge. For instance, Stanford studies show that 75% of consumers will make a judgment on a company’s credibility based on its website’s design. You can read more here if you’re interested in what makes a good website.
Furthermore, this is always supplemented with a consistent branding strategy. Half-hearted measures and incoherent assets won’t do much for a business. Therefore, it’s essential to take a holistic approach. Also, it lets your audience know that you care about what you are presenting to them.
So, the important takeaway is that the saying “good design is invisible”, is only sometimes true. In reality, it’s always as loud or quiet as it needs to be for the end user. But garnering the trust and confidence of your customers is well worth it. And as always, if you have any questions about design, feel free to reach out to us. We’d love to chat.
