Because Simplicity is a Beautiful Thing
The Importance of a Good Visual Design
Visual design is the face your product presents to the world. Color and shape create instant emotional responses. These in turn lead to positive or negative reactions from users. It codes and distills information in a way that cannot be done otherwise.
Good visual design enhances those features you want to emphasize. It creates a sense of space and flow that allows users to easily find their way. Poor visual design can do the opposite. Even if your product works well, it can alienate users and ultimately fail if it looks incomplete, busy, garish, dull, or outdated.
The Visual Design Process
As in interaction design, successful visual design requires an iterative process, with discussion and feedback from the product team at each step of the way. A visual design review takes into account the goals for your existing product and works to enhance the existing design using the simplest and most direct approach. If the product is well established, the visual review ensures that the product retains a familiar feel while connecting with users in a new and exciting way.
