Smart design: Why your content deserves better than a default template

Why make life harder for your readers? This goes for the copy you write. (Of course.) 

But what about the design? 

In too many documents, it's an afterthought. 

It's perfunctory. It's whatever-template-we-were-already-using. 

And that, my friends, does not grip or hold anyone's attention.

Smart design, however, stands out.

It moves people through a piece without feeling forced. 

It enables them to jump to what they care about most, and leads them toward powerful insights they can take action on tomorrow...or tonight.

At Founders, we feel this in our bones. We recognize that design can play a strategic role.

And seemingly small choices can have a big impact.

For example:

• Use contrast (e.g., font size, color) to signal importance (AKA "hierarchy").

• Let ideas breathe by including plenty of white space around text, and avoiding walls of lengthy copy.

• Put icons or illustrations to work as visual metaphors to reinforce your key points.

With your next content project, ask yourself: 

- Are my visuals supporting the reader's journey? 

- Or are they creating needless friction? 

Make next steps obvious for your readers. After all, clarity drives results...and aren't we all in this to make an impact?

Check out this behind-the-scenes peek at our team's design decisions on a national project for two major nonprofit organizations.

(Scroll for the tips, stay for the Bon Jovi Easter egg. 👀 🤘)

Want us to eyeball your latest document? Tag Founders on LinkedIn with a screenshot and we’ll send you one tweak to try.