People who don't work in the industry may think that all that's needed for a good design is some aesthetic talent and a firm handle on digital design tools like Illustrator. But anyone serious about making a career in design will soon learn that there is far, far more to it.

Research is an aspect of the design process many people don't think about an awful lot, because it's not nearly as visible as it would be in, say, writing. The point of design is to make something unique that feels like a whole, integrated product, so the individual components and inspirations are often hidden by definition. But research is an absolutely fundamental part of being the best designer you can be, as it affects your decision-making and expands your horizons.

In case you're still not convinced, we've collated this list of four amazing effects a thorough research phase can have on your end-product and skills as a designer.

You'll become more efficient

By spending some time keeping up to date with latest technologies and trends, you can always ensure you're using your time and resources to their best effect. Gathering some background information and thoroughly analyzing clients' briefs will also cut down on your time in the long run, as you're guaranteed to have a better sense of how to fulfil a job, allowing you to spend less time on revisions later. With the internet having put pretty much everything you'd ever wish to know at your fingertips, there's really no excuse to come to a project unprepared.

Your clients will be happier

In order to create a design that is relevant to your clients, you first need to understand their business, and their industry. By researching their brand and understanding their history, values and vision, you will be able to create symbols and metaphors in your designs to make them more meaningful to the client. As a result, you'll have clients who feel like you took the time to truly understand them, and in the end, don't we all just want to feel understood?

You won't accidentally plagiarize

There's good reason why certain industries are drawn toward particular colors, shapes or styles of designs. Humans have a fairly specific way of analyzing information, so naturally, when we want to convey certain points, we tend to quickly think along roughly the same lines as others would. There's also the problem of subconscious influence – you may have walked past a particular store every day for years without ever thinking about it much, but when a client approaches you with a design brief for the same kind of business, your mind automatically skips to that brand without making the connection. Researching your client's industry and competitors can be a great way to avoid accidentally spending all the time and effort to a perfect logo only to find out it's too similar to a competitor down the road.

You'll be a better designer

We've already said that being a good designer depends on more than just talent. Researching your own industry helps you stay abreast of latest trends and techniques, and expands your own horizons. We're not saying you have to follow all trends either – you just need to know about them, and their rationale, to make an informed decision for or against them depending on your project's needs. Looking at plenty of design examples also helps you understand others' processes, which will help you hone your own design and UX abilities. You'll be more confident for it.

Without research, your design process will be mostly guesswork, and as a result fraught with miscommunication. You may be itching to get to the fun stuff, or feel deadline pressure means you'll have to take up the pencil straight away, but a thorough design phase will always save you time, and sanity, in the long run.

Want More?

Design can be a tricky business. Thankfully we're here to help you navigate it. Check out these articles for more tips:

Quoting 101 - How to Bid on (and Win) Freelance Design Work

Why Vector Files Are Better For Your Clients

Logo Development: 4 Things To Consider When Creating A Company Logo

Written by Divya Abe on Friday, August 28, 2015

Divya Abe is an expert graphic designer ready to share her knowledge with the crowd. Besides spending quality time on the internet she enjoys anything to do with cats. Get in touch via Google+.