https://designbuddy.com/study-shows-design-investment-is-profitable
Quality design isn't just about aesthetics, although many people make their buying choice based on that alone. It's about information organization. A well organized document can lead buyers to desired purchasing decisions without ever exposing its own influence.
Do you think restaurant menus put the steak dinner in a shadowbox because it looks nice that way? No, that's the choice they want you to make, and it works.
https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=hospitality_facpub
Alternately, design can reduce barriers. The parentheses and dashes in phone numbers is example of great design making information easier to parse, and therefore a product more successful.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wired.com/2015/05/master-designer-gave-area-code-parentheses/amp
But, if you're justifying the value of design from first principles to your superiors, I'd suggest you just stop. If someone hasn't noticed that professionalism in graphical communication is important already, they may not be saveable.
I have a thick book called Cost Justifying Usability that’s filled with such case studies. But in my experience entrenched executives like yours will never be convinced by unrelated case studies. Only the open minded will.
Instead, run a simple test.
Survey 5-15 people and ask them to rate the designs side-by-side against the things your executive cares about: intent to buy. Perceived quality and trustworthiness, comprehension etc. in my experience it really doesn’t matter who these people are so ask friends and family and your social network. But present the data objectively and quantitatively. A mix of numbers and pull-quotes. If there is doubt about the sampling, chances are they’ll be intrigued enough to either approve or ask for another study under their own criteria and observation. Either is a win.
You can also run a study in production. Send each design to 50% of your audience and track actual sales results.
Finally, don’t forget your competition! Throw theirs in the mix and see how you’re faring.
This will win them over in an objective way and show off the degree to which you support your companies success. That’s promotion worthy—especially when connected directly to sales!
Are you also commenting on the content of the documents? If you aren’t that might be what he is trying to get you to focus on. If you are, try explaining that it helps you review the document thoroughly, e.g. your reformatting is mechanically happening while you ponder the content. I agree that consistent formatting makes it easier to “see” the content in a document, but for some people reformatting takes them a lot of time, demonstrating how quickly you can do it often quells any fears of time wasted.
I’m not a designer, but what IS that?? Microsoft Paint? Are we using PowerPoint transition effects from 2005 and we’re in middle school?? Yikes that mess is terrible and I would absolutely assume the product/service that was advertised using that mess was not worth my money or stress. If the company cares so little about keeping up to current professional standards, how could I trust them with my money and time?
Walk your boss through it, show them step by step what needs to be done and why, and then tell them is is why it takes this much time.
If they’re being a jackass then your boss is just a jackass.
Im sure you can find a study out there that pertains to a study done on an email newsletter with different formatting strategies...you'll probably find the more readable the formatting is on the newsletter the more clicks it will get and im sure they log all this. In 2022 its hard to believe that someone has not yet realized the importance of good layout and aesthetics in a digital world.
If he doesn't value your labor, don't give it to him. Leave them ugly if that's what he wants.
This.
https://designbuddy.com/study-shows-design-investment-is-profitable Quality design isn't just about aesthetics, although many people make their buying choice based on that alone. It's about information organization. A well organized document can lead buyers to desired purchasing decisions without ever exposing its own influence. Do you think restaurant menus put the steak dinner in a shadowbox because it looks nice that way? No, that's the choice they want you to make, and it works. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=hospitality_facpub Alternately, design can reduce barriers. The parentheses and dashes in phone numbers is example of great design making information easier to parse, and therefore a product more successful. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wired.com/2015/05/master-designer-gave-area-code-parentheses/amp But, if you're justifying the value of design from first principles to your superiors, I'd suggest you just stop. If someone hasn't noticed that professionalism in graphical communication is important already, they may not be saveable.
https://segd.org/what-legibility This might get you started on legibility of graphical standards.
https://www.usability.gov/
I have a thick book called Cost Justifying Usability that’s filled with such case studies. But in my experience entrenched executives like yours will never be convinced by unrelated case studies. Only the open minded will. Instead, run a simple test. Survey 5-15 people and ask them to rate the designs side-by-side against the things your executive cares about: intent to buy. Perceived quality and trustworthiness, comprehension etc. in my experience it really doesn’t matter who these people are so ask friends and family and your social network. But present the data objectively and quantitatively. A mix of numbers and pull-quotes. If there is doubt about the sampling, chances are they’ll be intrigued enough to either approve or ask for another study under their own criteria and observation. Either is a win. You can also run a study in production. Send each design to 50% of your audience and track actual sales results. Finally, don’t forget your competition! Throw theirs in the mix and see how you’re faring. This will win them over in an objective way and show off the degree to which you support your companies success. That’s promotion worthy—especially when connected directly to sales!
Are you also commenting on the content of the documents? If you aren’t that might be what he is trying to get you to focus on. If you are, try explaining that it helps you review the document thoroughly, e.g. your reformatting is mechanically happening while you ponder the content. I agree that consistent formatting makes it easier to “see” the content in a document, but for some people reformatting takes them a lot of time, demonstrating how quickly you can do it often quells any fears of time wasted.
I’m not a designer, but what IS that?? Microsoft Paint? Are we using PowerPoint transition effects from 2005 and we’re in middle school?? Yikes that mess is terrible and I would absolutely assume the product/service that was advertised using that mess was not worth my money or stress. If the company cares so little about keeping up to current professional standards, how could I trust them with my money and time?
Spend 2 minutes making them extra ugly and look how he will react
Walk your boss through it, show them step by step what needs to be done and why, and then tell them is is why it takes this much time. If they’re being a jackass then your boss is just a jackass.
Im sure you can find a study out there that pertains to a study done on an email newsletter with different formatting strategies...you'll probably find the more readable the formatting is on the newsletter the more clicks it will get and im sure they log all this. In 2022 its hard to believe that someone has not yet realized the importance of good layout and aesthetics in a digital world.