Where’s the value in graphic design?
Posted in: Design Blog by Dennis Good on November 6, 2009
Not an after thought. Graphic Design is not an added value. It’s not the icing on the cake and it’s certainly not an afterthought. Design is a necessity. Design has to be considered with any marketing effort or creative projects such as web sites, printed communication, brand marks and colors, advertising and so on. The list goes much farther than that, but my point is, people see YOU as YOUR brand and design is what makes up the visual aspects of your brand. Consider it first and do your homework as a business owner so that you are best representing your business with smart design.
You get what you pay for. Smart designer do their homework and ask lots of questions. Bad designers typically do not research their clients markets and find out who their competitors are. Ask your designer what their intentions are and what their thoughts are on creative direction and strategy. You’re not just buying design, you’re paying someone to think about the future of your business and how to lead you in the right direction. Good design is easy to understand and communicates well. Good design in thought provoking and memorable. Good design is innovative and fresh.
Quality comes with time. Give it time. Creative ideas do not come bursting out of the darkness like a flash of lighting, or come barreling down the road with guns a blazing to save the day. Design is done delicately and develops over a period of time with close attention to detail while taking many different alternatives into consideration. Good designers are very patient and open to many solutions and work toward the best solution possible at the time of need. Take time to consider, research, ask questions, change things, ask more questions… you get the idea.
The value of design does not jump and say here I am, here I am at the beginning of a project. The value of good design is in it’s results. Days, weeks, months, or even years after. Did it stand the test of time? Did it show my customers that I mean business and want to look professional in front of my clients.
There’s the value in graphic design.
