Everything man-made that you own, every product you see at the grocery store, every machine, every building is a product of design. The technology allowing me to type and for you to read this blog is because of design. The shirt you are wearing right now was designed, so was that spoon you used this morning to eat your cereal. Pretty crazy to think about, right? We live in a world of production, and with production, there has to be design.
Mass production was very important in the industrial period all the way through World War II. This kind of production meant that products and copies of the products are made very quickly using assembly lines. Back then, everything was made this way. Even clothes and gloves.
While design was still used in a big way in mass production, only one design of one product was being produced because the mass production only allowed one to be used for everyone to wear or use.
In current times, multiple designs of one product are used and made. For example, if you go to the store to buy a pair of socks you have plenty of design options: low-cut, mid-calf, crew length, knee length, black, white, neon, printed, the opportunities are endless.
As you can see, design now is centered around human preference. We call this ergonomics: an applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that people and things interact most efficiently and safely, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
Because design is now human-centered and lots of choices are now offered, businesses have more opportunities and can benefit financially from the opportunity of choice for their customers.
Design Adds Value
According to a research study called
Leading Business by Design conducted by the Warwick Business School, businesses that invest in design add value by:
- Driving innovation and opening up uncontested market spaces
- Differentiating products and services to attract customers
- Strengthening branding by embodying a company’s values and improving recognition
Design is a Strategic Investment
Investing in design is a way to reinforce your brand, even if your business is new to the marketplace. Companies that make design a priority gain better turnover and profits than those who don’t make design a priority.
According to multiple studies by
Digital Experience Design, design boots business growth by:
- Increasing turnover -For about every dollar invested in design, business can expect about $20 in increased revenues
- Linking to profit - For about every dollar invested in design, business can expect about a $4 increase in net operating profit
- Boosting exports - For about every dollar invested in design, businesses can expect a return of about $5 in increased exports.
Because of this data, one can conclude that design is a strategic investment, not an expenditure.
Design Engages the Brain
Most of us are guilty of the mindless scrolling and browsing on the internet or other social media platforms. Most of us aren’t going through reading information but rather, looking at the visuals. What makes us stop scrolling? Probably a very engaging, interesting photo or infographic.
Fun fact:
90 percent of the information transmitted to the brain is gathered visually. We also process images 60,000 times faster than text. Most images we see on the internet are products of design. Because of this, it is crucial for businesses to present complex information by using a visually pleasing infographic instead of lengthy text about the information.
According to Inner Spark Creative’s own Dayton Cook, who works as our Art Director, design is a necessary part of influencing the audience’s perception of your business.
“Designers master the expression of subtleties: all of the visual signals that speak to the viewer without using words. Designers can read the “body language” of the physical world – the forms, sounds, and colors that stir certain feelings in us without our being aware of them – and focus that language to send a message. And since so many of us rely on our feelings when we make decisions, good design can help a business convert a customer as well, if not better, than a good explanation.”
Additionally, marketing is not good marketing unless it incorporates quality graphic design. Our graphic designers at Inner Spark Creative can help you establish your brand at any scale; from the design of a logo, to a state-wide, multi-platform marketing campaign. It can be intended for a small number of people, or can be seen on a much larger scale depending on your strategy and budget. Regardless of the size of your business or scale of your marketing plan, it’s fundamental to have quality graphics to support your product or service.
The design process, similar to your marketing plan, is all about strategy. We need to sit down with you and focus on the goals your company believes in and the type of people you are targeting before making any design decisions. We need to develop designs and a corporate identity that has longevity and can be used across various platforms to resonate with your target market.
Good design makes your brand look good. It’s that simple. It also helps set you apart from your competitors, conveys a message of credibility and professionalism, and it summarizes an idea with consistent imagery that resonates.
Inner Spark has an extensive amount of expertise in the graphic design industry. Let our seasoned professionals help you create a
unique design to get your message out there and to establish your brand position within the marketplace. To learn more, contact us
here or call us at (334) 826-7502!
