5 top reasons why professional graphic design really matters
More than ever before, standing out from your competitors is so important. With saturated markets across the globe and industries delving into fresh, innovative ways to achieve exposure and results, it’s no wonder we are always considering new ways to set ourselves apart. Having worked in the design industry for ten years, I’ve often been in discussion with clients about how they can achieve a competitive edge in their industry. In all cases, I’ve always reiterated the importance, and need, of consistent and carefully considered graphic design. This can make a BIG difference to getting noticed for all the right reasons.
Many people underestimate the power of professional graphic design and the need to invest in such assets. To begin with, there is often a common misconception that professional design is hugely expensive. With this mindset, many people choose to turn to platforms such as Fiverr, Freelancer, and Upwork for their design needs. However, in doing so, many don’t have the successful experience they were hoping for so it really is a case of ‘you get what they pay for’! I have had numerous clients in the past seeking design help as a result of having a disappointing experience with a somewhat ‘cheaper’ option. With this, comes wasted time and funds that in hindsight, they wished they’d invested elsewhere from the beginning.
In essence, professional graphic design is a solid and beneficial investment in the long-term future and success of your business. It should be second nature when making sound decisions and should certainly be valued in the workplace. With this in mind, it’s worth appreciating what you’d gain when going ahead with such decisions. We’ve outlined 5 top reasons why investing your time, effort, and money in professional graphic design is so important, and how you’ll benefit as a result.
The vast array of perfumes available to us is just one example of how completely different first impressions can be made through design alone.
First impressions really matter
Simply put, the design of your brand, and indeed the ‘face’ of your company has a big impact on whether or not you will get noticed, secure that new client, receive that investment... the list goes on. First impressions are made instantly. It only takes a few seconds of viewing your brand and an unbelievable 50 milliseconds when viewing your website for people to form their opinion. These statistics alone reiterate why generating all the right attention is key and why spending minimal time or effort on your brand won’t bode well in the long-term. Making carefully selected and intentional design decisions when aiming to achieve an impressive brand that your audience can relate to will result in people wanting to stick around and get to know you. Great design instills trust. The more credibility your brand has, the more likely your audience will place their trust in you, value your advice and feel confident about working with you. A carefully considered brand is reflective of the value you place on your professionalism and in turn, this will result in a loyal client base who will support and believe in your brand.
Starbucks is just one example that proves how consistent graphic design can achieve a highly successful global brand that is easily recognisable.
Consistency is key
When coming across any brand, lack of consistency or a mismatch, cluttered approach to the design on their website is not ideal. Inconsistency can be detrimental because there simply isn’t the visual cohesiveness that links our minds to that specific brand. Brands appear disorganised and hectic and people ultimately veer away from them. A meaningful and emotive brand that your clients or customers can relate to, and recognise, is imperative — it must be memorable. It’s essential to make deliberate and informed decisions about everything that makes up your brand, even down to the small details. The more detailed and precise you make your decisions, the more consistent your brand will ultimately be. Ensuring all typography, colours, imagery, layouts and the overarching vision of your company is consistent and maintained across everything that you produce and promote is crucial. This is ultimately where professional graphic design can make such a big difference. Working with a design professional to succinctly align all elements of your brand from the very beginning is such an important step to take when establishing the most effective and memorable brand that has the most impact.
Designers carefully consider how the design in question works, not just how it looks.
There’s design, and then there’s great design
Professional designers go that extra mile. Not only because they may want to, but because they know what’s needed to impress your audience, maximise user experience and achieve that ‘WOW’ factor. They carefully consider how the design in question works, not just how it looks. It’s the small details that may not be visually apparent that sometimes have the greatest impact. Everything that a designer considers is for a reason. Yes, it is important for all design work to be aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but it’s equally important — if not more so — to consider ways to add the greatest value by considering who you are, who your audience is, who the company is, who your competitors are, etc. By taking these all into consideration, personable design of the highest quality resonates and engages with your audience in the best possible way.
Coca Cola has such a powerful and recognisable brand that it instantly stands out regardless of how and where it is seen.
Stand out from the crowd
We’ve all been there — walked down an aisle of the supermarket only to be struck by a huge array of the same type of product. How did we make the decision about the product we eventually chose? There’s no doubt that the design of the product — whether it was the colours, the interesting patterns of the label, the elegant simplicity of the packaging, etc — had a big impact on our decision making. No matter what industry you’re in, there is always competition. When there are so many people offering the same services or selling the same products, it’s important to stand out in ways your competitors may not be. Cue professional design. Regardless of what your competitors are doing, working with a professional design team and considering your Unique Value Proposition (UVP) — how you can solve your customer’s needs and distinguish yourself from your competition — is an investment worth making. Whether you decide to offer a unique customer experience, promote an intriguing take on the ‘norm’ within your industry or a playful campaign to promote your services, whatever it may be, how you differentiate your brand from what’s already out there will make all the difference to getting noticed.
Investing your time, effort, and money in professional graphic design will help you get the results you deserve and meet those long-term goals.
Get the results you deserve
Investing in professional graphic design may seem like a big investment initially, but when done right, it can really make all the difference to boosting your conversion rates, enhancing sales and achieving investment. Why? Because people love high-quality professional design that really tells your story and reflects the passion and drive behind your brand. Say for example you need a proposal document to pitch to a new potential client for a large contract you’re hoping to secure. Going back to what we mentioned earlier, the key here is the need to stand out from your competition and send something that engages your audience in such a way that they’ll remember you for all the right reasons. Rather than simply sending it as a Word document for example, by going that step further and having it professionally designed, you will achieve that competitive edge needed to stand out. Through encompassing your brand and your values throughout the document and taking time to carefully consider how and why the content is presented in such a way, it will show the professionalism and dedication you have to drive for success and aim higher. The perfect recipe for making the best first impression.
Are you ready to get started with professional graphic design that will get you noticed, for all the right reasons?
At Lead by Designn, we pride ourselves on offering a personalised, dedicated and meticulous approach to every project we work on. We value our clients and aim to develop long-term collaborations that we believe make all the difference to the outcome of our work. If you’re looking for high-quality graphic design work that will achieve that competitive edge in your industry, get in touch today.