Why might a business owner need to hire a professional designer at a time when so many DIY tools are available online?
This question was one I answered recently when I participated in a short interview at a local business networking group. I only had a short time, so I thought long and hard about how to succinctly make the points I felt were most important about why professional design is important.
In a nutshell, here’s what I hoped I conveyed to the audience that evening.
First impressions count. As a professional you deserve a website and marketing materials that do you (and your business) justice. Why not do it right?
- You want to communicate to potential clients with clarity and impact as to why they should choose you. And who can help you emphasize your strengths in the most creative, attention-getting, yet professional and attractive way? A professional designer has been perfecting his or her skills for many years. We know the how to apply standards, cover details and provide functionality, and have the eye for a beautiful presentation that is all about you.
- First impressions count. You are a professional and have worked so hard to get where you are. Don’t you deserve to have a website and marketing materials that do you and your business justice? Why not do it right?
- Conversely, a flimsy, hard-to-read business card that looks cheap, or a poorly functioning, out-of-date (or plain unattractive) website reflects on you as well. Surely you wouldn’t want your potential customers to think “if this company doesn’t care about their own business, will they care about mine?”
- Every designer bring his or her own unique talents and background to the table. They may have worked in specific environments, or even may have once had other careers. Each of us brings our experience and a perspective colored by that experience.
design is a all about communication.
My own background, for example, encompasses academia, marketing, writing and publishing, and several international and intercultural environments. With such a heavy writing/editing background I nearly always incorporate copyediting into my design if warranted. In addition, having worked for many years overseas and in multicultural companies, I am also sensitive to cultural differences and to how different social organizations, including businesses, communicate. And after all, design is a all about communication.
The bottom line: Talk to more than one designer and see who resonates with you. Not only should they have excellent skills, they should be able to understand you and your needs, carry through what you need while also advising you.
