Why Design Deserves a Seat in the Boardroom
In today’s hyper-competitive marketplace, the conversation around design is shifting from the periphery of business strategy to the heart of decision-making processes in the boardroom.
That’s right — design is no longer just an afterthought or about surface-level aesthetics.
It’s a critical factor that drives brand awareness, enhances customer retention, and ultimately contributes to a company’s bottom line. Understandably, it deserves a seat at the table.
Inspired by the Future London Academy, the Re:View Creative team has delved into why design should be considered in the boardroom and beyond.
Design and Strategy — How the Two Work Together
When you think about a boardroom, you’ll likely picture top-level executives pouring over statistics and grey spreadsheets. It’s all about strategy and figures here.
However, the strategy doesn’t have to be a black-and-white concept — unless it’s on the moodboard, of course.
Design is a powerful tool that can drive business strategy and enhance the customer experience and satisfaction rates. Not considering your brand’s design DNA at the boardroom level is a significant misstep that can negatively impact the following points.
Enhancing Brand Awareness
Considering design in the boardroom helps enhance brand awareness and recognition, as the brand identity and company ethos are typically more coherent.Leaving logos, colour schemes, and web design as an afterthought might result in them being disjointed or not representative of the brand’s goals or character. This could lead to missed opportunities, as potential customers might not notice the brand or mistake it for something else.
Customer Retention
Similarly, leaving design out of the boardroom can also dampen your customer retention rates.
If the customer doesn’t remember or appreciate the brand’s design, they’ll be less likely to have a positive experience and re-purchase or subscribe.
Ensuring you have a talented design team and accurate brief from the get-go will dramatically improve your customer retention rates and improve your bottom line.
Remember, visual design is a type of communication. What’s your business currently telling your customers?
Design and ROI
Investing in design is investing in your business!
The ROI (return on investment) for professional design is clear, as proven by a McKinsey study. The company tracked the design practices of 300 companies over five years and concluded that there was a significant correlation between improved financial performance and attention to design.
Consumers rewarded companies that stood out within their niche due to unique design and cohesive brand identities. So, if you’ve been putting off your redesign to save costs, these findings might make you want to reconsider.
Making Design A Core Factor – The Takeaway
Companies must consider design and aesthetics in the boardroom to rise above the competition. But you don’t have to take the work into your own hands!
At Re-view Design, we believe that collaboration between design and business leaders sparks innovation and drives strategic success. We’re here to provide professional assistance and deliver design solutions that boost brand identity and deliver measurable outcomes.
See our previous work via our portfolio. Or learn exactly how we can help on our services page.
We’re here to work with you for long-term success. Start the conversation today and begin the journey with our experts.
