What makes good design good?

Have you ever noticed that people may not know how to play an instrument, but they instantly know whether they like the music or not? The same goes for design—everyone recognises good design when they see it, even if they don’t know how to create it.

Hi! Kocha here—today, I’m sharing my takeaway from Tom Greever’s book “Articulating Design Decisions.” I’ve broken it down into bite-sized episodes to make it easier to follow. Let’s dive in.

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What makes good design good?

According to Greever, there are three things that every design needs to be successful:

1. It solves a problem.
2. It’s easy for users.
3. It’s supported by everyone.

The third point is the key theme of the book—getting everyone on board.

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Why support matters

We often overlook how much other people influence our projects. Even the most brilliant design will fall flat if your team doesn’t support it. Designing something great is only half the job; the other half is rallying your team to bring it to life.

Greever believes that what separates good designers from great ones isn’t just their problem-solving skill—it’s also their ability in communicating how their designs solve those problems in a way that inspires buy-in. Great designers are great communicators.

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Communication over design

Here’s the thing: communicating about your design is often more impactful than the design itself. Think about it—mediocre products can sell well if marketed effectively.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Nope, I’m not saying we should settle for mediocre work and just talk it up. I know you already deliver high-quality work. All I’m asking is learn to communicate and sell your own design effectively.

Articulating your design decisions means knowing the message you want to share and the response you want to inspire. It’s not just about creating innovative designs; it’s about building trust and confidence in your expertise.

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The key takeaway

So, what makes good design good? It’s not just solving problems or being user-friendly—it’s ensuring your design is supported by everyone: your product team, your company, and your customers. The secret to gaining that support? Effective communication!

In the next episode, we’ll explore the single most important thing you can do to improve communication with your stakeholders.

Thanks for tuning in—chat soon! ✌🏼

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Book summary episodes from Tom Greever’s “Articulating Design Decisions”

Ep.1: What makes good design good?

Ep.2: The secret to better communication

Ep.3: When do designers miss opportunities most?

Ep.4: Coming soon