Ive heard it more than I would like to admit but I’ve had clients tell me my design is boring.
“We are paying for 4 colours why aren’t we using them?”
“Why can’t you cram more photographs in?”
“Can you add more fonts?”
“This looks pretty plain…”
I’ve wrote before about being appropriate. Did you know that the more design elements we use in a piece detracts from the overall message? Did you know that one of the most boring and esthetically displeasing fonts in the world (no offense Courier) is one of the best for overall comprehension? Readability?
I know… I know… You want it to look interesting so people will read it… People don’t look at boring stuff do they?
Let me tell you something; a good designer can make your ‘thing’ pretty, but a great designer will make sure your ‘thing’ communicates and is understood. You need to realize the more you force a designer to add colours, swooshes, photos, fonts, bars and embellishments, the more you strip the ability of someone to comprehend what you are asking them to do or what you want them to know.
Do not mess with the focus and concentration of your donors. Ask for one thing. Get the point across as quickly and and as simply as possible. Every single design element should be there to help support the message.
Often the things that seem the most boring are the most effective.
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