What is ‘Good’ Web Design?

“Design cannot rescue failed content.”
Edward R. Tufte, Design Guru

What is the definition of good design? Is it aesthetically pleasing? Does it win awards and accolades? Is it on the bleeding edge of technology, showing everyone you’re savvier than the competition?

Or, is good design undefinable? Is beauty in the eye of the beholder?

It may surprise you to learn that good design is not actually subjective. According to top designers at the World Economic Forum in 2009, it means that something works efficiently.

That is to say, if your site looks beautiful but is difficult to navigate, that’s bad web design. If your website layout is logical but the blinking typography makes people’s eyes bleed, that’s bad design.

Bad design means a high bounce rate. It means people aren’t interested in spending any more time on your website than they absolutely need to. It’s a big red X on your brand.

The Four Elements Of Good Design

In our first blog post, we talked about why having a great website is so important to your business. In this post, we’re focusing on exactly how to make your website great.  We’ve broken it down into four key elements—the building blocks of every successful website.

Be Available
Just like any physical address, if people can’t find you they can’t do business with you. In order to be easily found, you’ll need an SEO expert who can not only analyze your inbound website traffic but offer suggestions on how to improve it.

Be Attractive
As we said in the beginning, good design is about more than aesthetics. With that, it’s also important to have a professional look and feel. You’ll want a seasoned designer who understands how and why people react to different designs.

Be Share-Worthy
You have knowledge to spread. Your blog is something people will benefit from. That’s why you need a professional writer or editor. They are trained nitpickers, and their job is to obsess on tiny details. A professional writer will ensure your important ideas will be properly presented and received.

Be Strategic
You’ve now created the perfect conditions for customer conversion. But what are you converting them to? Andwhy? This is where a marketing specialist should work with you to come up with a bullet proof strategy that makes sense for you.

Don’t Be Content With Mediocre Content
You have a story to tell and your website is like the book that holds that story. Just like publishing a book, there are many different teams which all work in tandem to create a finished product. From designers to writers to technical experts, no one team is an island when it comes to designing quality websites.


YEARONE is an advertising talent collective who can help you redesign your site from a holistic viewpoint. Unlike other design firms, we have years of experience as advertisers and marketers. Actually, we see your website as an extension of our existing marketing efforts. It’s like having two different firms rolled into one.

Want to know more? We talk in detail about all of the above points in our eBook, 25 Website ‘Must Haves’