A GOOD DESIGN ISN'T ALWAYS THE RIGHT ONE

In life, one of the hardest things to maintain is balance. That thin line between love and hate, action and hesitation, effort and overthinking, it’s subtle, but it changes everything. Graphic design works the same way. There's a thin line between a design that elevates your brand and one that holds it back. And finding that line isn’t just about what “looks good.”

At first glance, design can feel like it’s all about aesthetics, shapes, colors, and typography. This is apparent even when I present designs to my clients, initial comments are always about the look. But design isn’t just visual. It’s emotional. It’s strategic. And the question we should be asking isn’t always “Do I like this?” but “Does this feel right for what we’re trying to say?”

Sometimes, the “right” design doesn’t immediately pop. It might not match your taste. It might not look like what’s trending. But it works. It communicates. It connects. It leaves a mark. This is where the thin line resides right in between a design that looks good but is connected, and vice versa.

The truth is, visual appeal is personal. What resonates with one person may completely miss another. And yet, even when something doesn’t immediately strike us as beautiful, we can still feel when it’s right. That’s the power of intentional design; it moves past personal opinion and gets to the heart of the message. When a design is effective, you get the mix of both, which is always our intent with each project to create something visually engaging that aligns with your goals.

So, how do you know if a design is right?

It starts with intent, and this is usually figured out by Stage 1 of our process. At Dk.Design we understand, what’s the goal? What emotion do you want to trigger? What action should someone take after engaging with it? Good design should answer those questions without needing extra explanation. It should feel aligned with your voice, your values, and your audience’s expectations.

In my work, I’ve learned to trust that balance. It’s not always easy, especially when I’m caught between creating something visually impressive and staying grounded in what the design needs to communicate. A few years ago, I designed some marketing materials [ poster, social media graphics, program] for a local symphony’s holiday performance titled “The Night Before Christmas.” I went all in on the mood: deep reds, rich greens, dark tones that captured a quiet, hopeful night. I thought it was beautiful. But when I presented it, the feedback was honest: “This looks great, but it feels like it’s meant for someone else.”

They were looking for something brighter, lighter, something that captured the joy of Christmas Day, not the calm before it. That moment stuck with me. It reminded me that even good design can miss if it doesn’t match the message. This was an important lesson to learn to see how the right design, one that’s clear, intentional, and aligned with purpose, can shift how people connect with a brand. It builds trust. It creates curiosity. It draws people in.

That’s why it’s not enough to just “make things look nice.” Nice is everywhere. Meaningful is rare.

If you’re building a brand, whether from scratch or through a rebrand, graphic design isn’t where you decorate. It’s where you direct. Every color, every layout, every word placement is an opportunity to shape how people experience what you do.

So the next time you're staring at a design wondering if it's working, ask yourself this first:

Does this design match our intent?

If the answer is yes, you're on the right track. That’s the line you’re trying to walk. And that’s how we help your brand grow and marketing succeed at DK.Design. Establishing a look that is visually appealing and emotionally aligned.