The Business ROI of Design

Design is way more than the way something looks, it’s how something works.

It doesn’t matter if you’re building a “boring” enterprise software company or flashy consumer product.

Great design can have massive impacts on business bottom line.

Here’s how:

1. Improved usability

Great design enhances a product's usability, making it more intuitive and user-friendly. When people find a product easy to use, it naturally leads to better conversion rates. This translates to higher sales.

2. More delight

In a saturated market, design can be the deciding factor for customers choosing your product over a competitor's. A well-designed product not only meets their needs, but also delights them.

3. Better retention

Delightful products tend to have higher user retention rates. Customers who are delighted by a product are more likely to stick around and spread the word organically (free marketing). This means reduced customer acquisition costs and a more sustainable business model.

4. Design brings teams closer

Companies with strong design culture does not mean that engineering is secondary. It means that engineers also play the role of “designers” and play an essential role in bringing well-designed experiences to life. Airbnb, Figma, Linear, and Apple understand this well.

5. Recruiting becomes easier

An amazing product can also serve as a powerful recruitment tool. The best talent is often drawn to companies that create exceptional products.