The Importance of Good Design

When I first think of ‘good design’ I think of something that is unique and captivating. A new use of an old technique, something inventive and daring, something I only wish I was creative enough to think up on my own. However, good design goes far beyond a pretty exterior or face value aesthetics.

Good design is imperative for the world to function as we know it. When thinking of design in the light of wayfinding, it becomes clear just how HUGE of an impact design has on the world. What if the green guide signs on the interstate had a script typeface? It would make navigating anywhere new very, very difficult and dangerous. In the same vein, thinking about road construction and warning signs, could you imagine if a path was too dangerous to trek and there was a tiny gray sign off in the bushes instead of a big bright sign to grab your attention and provoke a sense of urgency? Or, if the information regarding food allergies was hard to find on a food label? In the most basic sense, good design is important for the safety and well being of people.

Let’s think about good design in regards to promotional means or interactivity. I’m sitting here in my bedroom writing this and to my left is a box of Scattergories. Referencing what I said at the beginning, good design does not necessarily mean appealing or eye-catching, however that definitely does play a major role in some areas. People do very much judge books by their covers and thinking about board games such as Scattergories, it’s important for the company that the packaging entices people and makes them want to learn more and hopefully buy it. Even the whole design of the game itself is important. A poor game board or game card design could make it difficult to play or make the consumer feel underwhelmed and uninterested, in turn, leaving them dissatisfied with the product and potentially leaving them to take their business elsewhere next time.

Stepping back to examine design at an even further perspective, as graphic design is just one of many applications. As broadly as I can think to describe it, design is a set of principles for creating the new. Good design is imperative in anything that is created as the by-product’s job usually pertains to keeping people safe, informed, or entertained and all the while the design should be working as efficiently as possible.

There are far more examples of what good design can do for safety, efficiency, and enjoyment and I’ve hardly just scratched the surface. In conclusion, I think in any sense or subset of design, the goal is to be effective and develop an efficient system to achieve and maintain that effectiveness whether that be safety in architecture, certainty in wayfinding, or engagement in graphic design.