Podcast Summary Article
In this thought-provoking episode of Brands on Tap, Rob and the team take a closer look at the growing trend of “good enough” design—and what it means for brands, agencies, and audiences alike. As the quality bar lowers across industries, they ask: what are we sacrificing in the name of speed and convenience?
⚠️ What Is ‘Good Enough’ Design?
The episode defines “good enough” design as:
- Design work that lacks polish or brand alignment, but still gets published.
- Often found in social media posts, digital collateral, and quick-turnaround assets.
- Content that meets a minimum requirement of communication—but misses opportunities for quality, originality or engagement.
Rather than being rooted in creative ambition, this type of design is driven by tight timelines, limited budgets, or a cultural shift toward quantity over craft.
📉 Why the Quality Bar Is Dropping
Rob points out that across sectors, people are becoming more accepting of mediocre visual output. Some of the reasons include:
- Post-COVID fragmentation: Remote working reduced team collaboration, impacting feedback loops and creative consistency.
- DIY tools and templates: Platforms like Canva empower more people to design, but not always with brand strategy or design training in mind.
- Time pressures: Fast-paced marketing cycles often prioritise shipping over shaping.
The result? More content, but less cohesion—and less brand distinction.
🎨 Why It Matters for Your Brand
The hosts argue that “good enough” might work short-term, but it chips away at brand equity in the long run:
- Inconsistency erodes trust – Mismatched colours, fonts, and layouts confuse audiences and dilute recognition.
- Design reflects values – Sloppy visuals can signal carelessness or inexperience.
- Poor first impressions – Especially for new audiences, your design is your front door.
In a crowded digital space, design quality is one of the few remaining differentiators.
🧠 What Can Be Done?
Rather than pushing for perfection, the episode advocates for a return to mindful design:
- Creative collaboration: Encourage feedback, involve strategists, and work cross-functionally again.
- Design guidelines: Create and stick to clear brand assets and templates.
- Education: Help internal teams understand why design quality matters—beyond just how it looks.
📌 Final Thoughts
“Good enough” may be easy, but it rarely makes a lasting impact. As Rob says, brands that invest in thoughtful, consistent design—not just fast execution—will always stand out in the long run.