design issues

Let me make my position very clear… design is absolutely important. Whether aesthetic, functional, creative, process, innovative, intellectual, technical or application… design matters. While I have heard many practitioners downplay the value of design, my experience has been that most employers espousing this view are commenting on something outside their domain of expertise in an attempt to justify a competing agenda or position of ignorance. . While this position may seem a bit harsh, it is nonetheless true. In today’s blog post, I’ll examine why design matters.

What do you think when you experience poor design? Are you likely to adopt a new poorly designed software application? When you’re handed a printed business card at Kinko’s, are you impressed? Are you likely to read a piece of collateral material that is poorly designed? If a newly implemented business process has design flaws, will employees follow the process or bypass it? Is poorly designed consumer packaging likely to catch your eye as you walk through the shopping area? When it comes time to buy your next car, would you seriously consider a poorly designed vehicle? I could go on and on with similar questions, but I think you get my point…

Now let’s examine the other side of the coin by looking at the positives associated with strong design. When you think of Apple, you immediately think of a company that has built a strong brand around quality design. The phenomenon of the iPod is punctual. The iPod pioneered innovative design in the mp3 vertical with great technical design, outstanding functional design, and is in a class of its own with respect to aesthetic design. Largely due to the iPod’s strong integrated design qualities, it is the dominant brand in its class, commands a premium price, and has developed an extremely loyal and satisfied customer base. When you’re evaluating providers online and you come across a poorly designed website, how long does it take you to click away from the poorly designed site in search of a better option?

You can review virtually any industry, sector, vertical or micro-vertical and when you examine the dominant brands you will find quality design at its core. While there are exceptions to every rule, they are few and far between when it comes to design. If you try hard enough, you can find an aberration in almost any rule, but it will just be an aberration.

Certainly, there is a difference between value engineering and arbitrary cost containment. The next time you hear someone question a design investment for the sole purpose of cutting costs, I suggest you think carefully before doing so, as few things in business produce the return on investment that a design reputation can. quality.

Think about the marketing and advertising campaigns that catch your eye, the clothes you wear, the house you live in, the cars you drive, the cell phone you carry, or any other decision you make, and you’ll find that design plays an important role. . key role in your decision-making… Design matters!