Uncover the Secret Element to Good Design

What is it about a design that makes it good? It can be hard to put your finger on. Yet most of us seem to intuitively recognize it when we see it.

A design that really works can actually be half science and half art. Certainly there are characteristics like proximity, alignment, repetition, contrast, emphasis, and balance that can be evaluated objectively. But most compelling design also features a certain je ne sais quoi that’s hard to describe. Ever wondered what that secret ingredient is?

Pondering this question reminds me of a concept called the “look back factor.” Imagine you’re about to purchase your first new car. It’s an exciting time. You’re on the verge of graduating from miserable public transport rider to a perhaps less miserable suburban driver.

You need to select a vehicle that’s reasonable and practical, sure. But it really helps when you also appreciate the aesthetics of your new objet d’art when parked. When you glance back at it on a sunny day, will it make you smile? It’s good thing when it can, because that may take some sting out of the checks you’ll be writing each month.

So it can be with good design as well. There are probably hundreds of books on this subject, so to claim we can pin down that elusive element in this blog post is a bit ambitious.

On the Three Words that Drive Website Traffic & Leads:

“Business people need Magnetic Content to attract and engage.” —James Fortier

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But if a designer understands the communication to be accomplished and carefully applies design elements in a thoughtful, organized way, there’s a legitimate opportunity to create something more than the sum of its parts. Something that makes people’s eyes want to soak it in and linger on the details. Like the examples below.

It’s certainly more likely to happen once a graphic designer invests years of focus, practice, and determination to their craft. But I believe that secret element is usually a result of the “luck” a designer creates for him or herself.

Wouldn’t you like to have someone deliver that for your next project?