Do you have a Design Advisor on your board of advisors? DESIGN ADVISORY? Is there such a thing? Yes, there is, and it's NOT a Design Lead or Sr Designer, and the like. Design Advisory typically involves the provision guidance and expertise to individuals or teams involved in the design process and there are very few around with the expertise and experience to back up the pivotal role they play in moving a business forward.
Founders should strongly consider design advisory for their business because good design goes beyond aesthetics; it's a strategic tool that can significantly impact a company's success. Here's how:
Ensures user-centric solutions
Design Advisors help Founders understand user needs and preferences. This ensures the product is intuitive, user-friendly, and solves real problems for the target audience, leading to higher user satisfaction and retention.
Destills competitive advantage
Design Advisors can help create a unique and visually compelling product and brand identity. This differentiation can attract users, build brand loyalty, and give founders a competitive edge in the market.
Aids business growth and scalability
Design Advisors ensure the product's design is scalable, meaning it can accommodate future features and user base expansion. They also help optimize design processes for efficiency, saving time and resources as the business grows.
Provides for informed decision-making
Design advisors translate design principles into business strategies. They help Founders understand how design impacts aspects like marketing, user acquisition, and brand perception. This enables data-driven decisions that contribute to achieving long-term business goals.
Reduces risks and costs
By identifying usability issues early on, Design Advisors can prevent costly mistakes and rework later in the development process. They can also help avoid products that miss the mark with users, potentially saving the company significant resources.
Influences innovation and agility
A design-centric approach encourages experimentation and exploration. Design Advisors can guide the design process to foster a culture of innovation, leading to new products, services, and ways to differentiate the business.
The role can vary depending on the context, but here are some common responsibilities:
Providing feedback: Offering constructive feedback on design concepts, layouts, and prototypes to improve functionality, usability, and aesthetics.
Problem solving: Assisting in problem-solving by identifying design challenges and proposing effective solutions.
Guiding design decisions: Helping to make informed decisions regarding design direction and outcomes.
Ensuring Consistency: Ensuring consistency in design elements across various platforms and mediums, such as websites, apps, print materials, etc.
Staying Updated: Keeping abreast of current design trends, technologies, and best practices to provide relevant advice.
Collaboration: Collaborating with designers, developers, marketers, and other stakeholders to align design goals with business objectives and user needs.
User Experience (UX) & Service Design optimization: Focusing on enhancing the overall user experience by optimizing user interfaces and interactions.
Educating: Educating team members or clients on design principles, methodologies, and industry standards.
Overall, these experts act as a knowledgeable resource, offering guidance and support to ensure that design efforts meet business objectives effectively and efficiently, idealling bringing in domain experts to help when required.
Design advisory equips Founders with the tools and insights to create user-centric, strategically designed products and brands. This translates to increased user engagement, brand loyalty, and ultimately, a higher chance of achieving long-term business success.
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