3 Reasons why design is really creative problem solving, not art
This may be a shock to some people, but design isn't art!
That doesn't mean that design shouldn't be beautiful. But it is not the main purpose of design, nor what you should be hiring a designer to do - that's what artists are for.
So here are my top 3 reasons why design isn’t actually art:
1. Design is a process that aims to solve a specific problem
Designers look at a problem, examine the possible outcomes and effects, and design a solution that is as elegant as possible.
The process of designing something, whether it’s a website or a coffee mug, is essentially the same:
understand the problem and empathize with the end user
define the framework for the solution (i.e. what form does the design need to take)
brainstorm possible solutions
develop the most promising one and incorporate feedback.
When I spent my days building websites for clients, the problems I was most often solving were business challenges, such as not having enough inquiries, not being easily findable by potential clients and not properly presenting the business to build trust and authority in their field.
2. Design is always based on research
Since design is a creative way to solve problems, us designers need to fully understand the problem and the people experiencing that problem. Without context, a designer can only imagine the possible problems and end users and is therefore solving only imaginary problems!
When solving business problems for my clients, I dive into the ins and outs of their businesses. I also research their competition to get a better sense of the market and any specifics around their offers so I can fully understand the world in which they operate.
3. Designers think about end users first
Designs are almost always used by someone, whether it’s a website being used by a tired mother looking for advice about latching or a door handle being used in a big office building. Thinking about WHO is using the end product as well as how, why, when and where they are using it will greatly inform the end product.
Without an end user, the design is useless (literally!).
When reviewing websites inside my signature website design course Work Your Website, one of the most common problems I see is that my student’s websites are designed for THEM… and not their ideal clients.
So yes, your website does serve your business and I show you step-by-step inside the course how to craft your websites to solve your business needs and goals. But at the end of the day, your website is really for your potential customers who land on it and may ultimately purchase from you.
Without the end customer, the website is useless so ensuring that their experience is considered and that their needs are prioritised is key to ensuring that the business’s goals and needs are met as well.
Now, all of this is well and good but how, you might ask, does this apply to your business?
Want to book more clients?
Designing an optimized customer journey through your website to lead interested clients to contact you will lead to more inquiries and ultimately more bookings!
Want to free up more of your time in your business?
Designing workflows and systems within your website to automate some of your processes can be a major liberator for busy business owners!
Need to stand out against your competition?
A well designed brand strategy will make your business instantly recognizable and attract the right fit clients to you rather than your main competitors!
If you’re struggling with one of the above challenges (or something else entirely), take a moment to take this quiz to identify exactly what’s working and what you need to work on to boost your website’s performance!
