Why Good Design Matters
At Creative One, we have a strong conviction that good design is important. Certainly, if we consider the gazillions of dollars spent each year by for-profit companies on design, it’s clear that the secular world thinks it’s valuable as well.
Those companies have big budgets and are motivated by profit. Unless your ministry is awash with cash and resources (Lord, hear our prayer) you don’t have the same resources. Investing in design might mean sacrifices elsewhere, so why invest your ministry resources here?
In short—why does good design matter?
There are a lot of practical reasons when it comes to your audience and engagement, but we believe the ultimate answer is found in the character of God.
Consider Paul’s statement in Romans about our universal unrighteousness:
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (Romans 1:19-20)
Paul is saying that God’s Creation shows enough of His character that no one can (honestly) say they didn’t know about Him. To deny His existence is to deny the evidence presented by the created world around us all.
This is General Revelation. Long before the clear, specific word of God was given, Creation revealed His existence and His nature. His attributes…have been clearly perceived…in the things that have been made.
There’s a principle at work since the beginning of the world: What is made reveals something about its maker.
As people made in God’s image, all of us are also creators. A similar principle is true for us— Something about our character is evident to those who engage with our work.
As an example, let’s say you hire a contractor to work on your house. Soon, you discover that he uses shoddy materials and has poor craftsmanship. What do you infer? You’re probably not thinking “Oh bless his heart—he must need better tools.” More likely, you’d make an assumption about his character. “He doesn’t care about quality” or “He’s bad at this.”
Unlike God, we don’t have infinite time and resources. But despite living in a fallen world, what we make points to who we are and what we value.
Like it or not, your communication materials and media assets affect people’s perceptions of your ministry. If it’s poorly designed or confusing, your audience will think that its quality is a reflection of your character. In many cases, your design assets are their very first experience with your ministry, so they form their first impression.
Good design improves communication and leaves a positive impression. We want to help your audience’s think; They care about excellence. They’re knowledgeable. They love beauty. I would feel at home here. I feel understood.
Those initial attitudes are a much better relational starting point than “I’m not sure about this.”
God looked on His own work in the beginning and said it was good. It reflected His character. Our desire is to help you communicate well to your audience, pairing information with design—all of which will say something true about your ministry, and you.
Beyond the practicalities of getting people into your ministries, we think good design is important because we are also part of Creation. You and I—and our ministries—are a reflection on Him. We want to create the impression that He is good, true, and beautiful, not because it’s practical, but because He is all of those things.
We’d love to have a conversation with you on how we can help raise the bar on your design quality in practical, affordable ways, while keeping our eye on the priorities of your ministry.
