Graphic Design

People are moved by images. After all, the brain can process a visual 60,000 times faster than it can process words. When you think about the way people browse the web, it is no surprise that sites with images get 94% more views than those that are text-driven. Customers can absorb images quickly enough to get interested in a website, but on a text-only page, they may decide to click away before their brains even have time to process the words. The importance of visuals isn’t limited to the internet, however. For businesses, every piece of marketing collateral and advertising has to be aesthetically appealing to be successful—if it’s not, then you could be wasting valuable resources. For these reasons, graphic design matters. Even for small businesses, design can’t be seen as an afterthought that happens in-house. Instead, it should be considered an important investment in growing and sustaining the company.

How Graphic Design Can Impact Your Business

The cost of ignoring the importance of graphic design is high for any business. Without careful design, your messaging can get lost and your business could fail to attract the attention of new customers or to keep current customers engaged. Have you considered these impacts of good graphic design?

• Graphic design can make your company look modern and fresh. As design trends change, your visuals have to change with them. By working with a graphic designer, you can ensure that your social media pages, website, and marketing materials look current and inspired. If you don’t keep up, your business will look outdated compared to your competitors.
• Good design lets your messaging get through. Graphic design makes your materials look aesthetically pleasing, but it is more important than just looks. Designers have an understanding of how people consume visual content and text. For example, most people see content in the top left corner of a page first, and as they skim a page of text, their eyes follow an F pattern on the page. This type of understanding lets designers put your most important information where it will be noticed.
• Design is part of your brand identity. Colors, fonts, and shapes all say something about who your company is, from playful and energetic to serious and trustworthy. Good graphic design ensures you are communicating the right identity to your customers.

Research shows that you have less than a second to make a first impression on a customer. Graphic design can make sure that impression is a good one—and make customers want to stick around for longer.

How to Use Graphic Design in Your Business

There are countless applications for graphic design in your business. If you send out direct mailers, graphic design is essential for making sure your campaigns have an impact. A graphic designer can refresh your website, making it more user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing. If your company needs a logo or wants to update the one you have, a skilled graphic designer can put together an image that works for your business.