We all know graphic design is one of the most visual and visceral arts in existence, but do you really know all the ways it impacts your life? When you watch TV, read books or magazines, shop online, give presentations at work—much of what you see was designed by a graphic designer. Pixel 3 ashes of the singularity image are copyrighted by their respective owners. These “15 Shocking Facts About Graphic Design” will show you the power these designers exercise and how much you benefit from it.
1. The Power of Design
A good graphic designer can make an average product look good, while a bad one can make a great product look bad—you may have noticed this phenomenon when comparing different versions of websites you like or finding that one illustration in a book or magazine that turns your enjoyment of reading the content into a chore.
2. Cost of Bad Design
A poor design can significantly hinder the effectiveness of your message. A 2013 study by Logitech revealed that people will spend less money on products with bad designs. Another study from 2003 which analyzed discount coupon offers found that a red border around a poster leads to more people redeeming the offer; it’s estimated that each redeemed offer costs about $4.90 per redemption.
3. It’s All About the Words
According to a 2008 study by New York University, consumers respond more favorably to brands with “friendly” names and strong logos. But a strong logo can only go so far. Since we have very little time to absorb it, critical information is conveyed best by words. If your logo isn’t distinctive and memorable you’ve lost half the battle of communicating your message effectively.
4. Use of Inspiration in Design
Cracked offers some evidence that inspiration may not be limited to the obvious—for instance, an online survey found that 47% believed that when a design came from nature it was more creative than one created digitally. 40% even said that designs made from nature were more original than those created with computer graphics software.
5. Design for the Average User
A website or app that looks good on a 27″ iMac may not look so good on a mobile phone with a 3.5″ screen—graphic designers need to consider the needs of each user group differently in order to create effective designs. Even if you think that designing for every screen size would be too difficult, remember that you still need to present your work in different screen sizes when you’re presenting your final product.
6. Experienced Designers Make the Difference
Graphic designers have the potential to add a lot of value to your company if they put in the time, effort and expertise that they have to offer. But if you don’t get along with them, it will be extremely difficult for them to work with you. If you have a bad experience with one designer, you could be setting yourself up for further problems later down the road.
7. The Importance of Colors
Color has a significant impact on how people perceive your design. When it comes to icons, colors can lead to feelings of reliability and trust when paired with certain colors and feelings of betrayal and distrust when paired with others. Simply changing the color scheme for something as simple as an icon can make a world of difference in how people perceive it.
8. Design Visuals for Staying Unchanged Over Time
With technology advancing at such a rapid pace, designers need to make sure that their designs will stay timeless. Good design is about functionality and not about making a statement at the expense of functionality—if you can’t tell what your design is for just by looking at it, then it’s not a good design.
9. Graphic Designers Offer Additional Value in Unique Ways
Consumers are willing to pay more money for services if they are delivered with “value-added” benefits, such as a faster completion rate or guaranteed levels of quality. Companies who provide these added benefits find that their customers are willing to spend between 12% and 49% more money on their products or services compared to companies without those added benefits.
10. The Cost of Bad Design
The cost of bad design is enormous—both for your company and for your customer. Think about how much money you spend on customer support and product development when your site is difficult to navigate. How many customers do you lose because you can’t properly communicate the value in your product or service? How much does it cost to find, train and pay a new designer if yours leaves?
11. Quality Matters More Than Quantity
If you have more than one design, make sure that you look at each individual design objectively in order to select the best one. The time and effort that you put into your first design will impact how much potential value you have in future designs. Thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of each may be enough to make a significant difference in the quality of your product.
12. Designers Think Differently Than Other People—Use It!
Designers think differently than most other people, so it’s important to recognize what they find important if you want to communicate with them effectively. In a study by Cint, designers were asked about their favorite and least preferred design elements. While most people preferred simple, clear messages that gave instructions clearly, designers chose potential and innovation as their favorites.
13. Make it Pretty
It’s important to make your designs pretty but you should also consider whether or not they’re good-looking enough. A design isn’t just something that somebody looks at—it’s also something that helps your brand come to life so make sure it’s as effective and beautiful as possible!
14. Ask Around for Good Designers
A common way to find designers is through a simple Google search or by asking friends or colleagues who they recommend. If you can’t find anyone though, you could try a site like Gizmodo Design’s Lookbook to search for inspiration and get more input from other people.
15. Web Designers Can Help You Land Customers
If you want to find additional customers for your website or mobile app, consider hiring a web designer. They can help you get to know your customer base better, show off your products and services, improve your SEO and increase conversions by providing an attractive landing page.
