We see good and bad design everywhere. But that bad design, it just will not go away.

I understand. You can do it yourself right? Or get someone who isn't really a designer to do it for you. All the tools are there, and they're either free or almost free, so why wouldn't you? Or how about that friend of a friend who knows a bit of Photoshop? And if you're a small business, a sole proprietor or a freelancer you want to do as much as you can yourself to keep control and have a tight rein on your budget. And 'being creative' is a whole lot more fun than some of that other stuff you have to do.

But here's the thing: good design isn't easy. If it was we'd see it everywhere and we don't. We see bad design. And bad design doesn't solve problems, it creates them. Bad design doesn't attract people it repels them. Bad design makes you look amateurish and untrustworthy because it creates doubt and uncertainty in the minds of those interacting with it or using it, whether they are designers or not.

And this happens because, well, no matter how much good design you see and how good you are at recognising it, you're probably not a designer. That's cool, I can play a few chords on the guitar but I'm no Johnny Marr (I got over that a while back)

So it keeps coming. We see bad layouts. We see the results of people being let loose on CMS and going damn crazy. We see justified text and bad use of fonts; colours that aren't in harmony; we see logos designed without any semblance of a good idea.

Design is not about taste - it's about solving problems. It's  about removing friction and making life easier. About telling stories in a way that engages and delights your audience. And a delighted and engaged audiience are going to do business with you now and in the future. A good designer knows this and will help you.

So no matter how tempting it is go cheap or DIY don't. Good design is really important and worth investing in. Your business deserves it.