Stop using templates

Many companies don’t prioritize design — they just use any released template and don’t put any effort into the process, and I think this is a problem.

Templates are quick and temporary solutions that you may think will serve your product. The truth is, sure, they look good, but they are not the solution to your problem. Templates are not original ideas or designs — in other words, they’re not unique.

You’re trying to reach the world with the message of your company. You’re trying to stand out and win over customers. You won’t do that with a template that has been sold to hundreds of other companies and people. Where is your sense of branding and specialty? Why are design and branding not valued enough? Regardless of the current stage of the company — whether a startup or a large corporation — design is important. This can’t be said any simpler.

That $10k–$100k+ you spend on a design agency, or even on an individual to design for you over the next few months, if done well, will give you a 10x return on that investment. You will have a unique design that is tailored and made to suit your product, mission, and goals. Let me be clear here: design is only one part of it. The other part is the product itself. You could have an incredible design, but if the product underdelivers and does not fulfill what it promises to do, at that point, it’s your fault — not the design.

The common argument is, “I don’t have the budget for a designer.” But let me ask you this — did you not just raise more than $500k–$1m+ for your startup? You probably have two or three employees, or none at all. Another excuse is, “Eh, it doesn’t matter, I can just use a template.” These kinds of people and personalities are the reason why their products look so generic and unoriginal. They just want to rush to market and release something that is probably half-broken. Where is the passion and love for the product? Where is the drive and desire to make something unique and special? Branding is what will help people remember your product and company, and it’s what will help you stand out from the competition.

In other words, you do have the budget and the financial means — you just don’t care enough and think design is something you can throw together using Microsoft Paint or something. I’m not writing this to bash early startup founders, but to raise awareness and help them understand the importance of design and branding. It’s incredibly frustrating when I see companies valued at $100m+ and yet their product and website look absolutely terrible. It’s like they don’t care about their company at all.

Most early-stage company founders and executives of large corporations — and I say most, because yes, it’s true — have no idea what design can do to people. They don’t understand the psychological impact of design on consumers. You could have an 80% functioning product, but the design is what encourages that user to subscribe or purchase your product. It’s not just about the product itself — it’s about the experience. This “experience” is achieved through well-thought-out design, both visually and functionally.

There's a huge lack of awareness of the importance of design and branding, and I think this is unacceptable. Especially here in the region, the Middle East. The bar is so low, and my ambition is to raise it up high, very high. There is no "Apple" here, while in the West, there's a few of them. I've worked on many projects, especially with startups, and I've explicity told them if you're in a rush, simply don't work with me and find yourself someone else who can do it for you, or use a template. Also let the designer do the work, let them show you how it can be done, because that is why you hired the designer in the first place. Quality work takes time, research, and exploration. It's not about the price, it's about the value.

Remember, these templates that you think that look really good, are recycled and used by hundreds of other companies, most likely that is. So your website probably looks like someone elses. Nothing special right?

Also the branding and design of your company only needs to be done once, and it can last you 20 years, more if you want. That is if the design looks timeless. So you see, it's just a one-time payment, so why not pay for something that could actually return you 200x your investment? It sounds like a good deal, doesn't it? in this modern tech era, design is so, so, so, important.

Imagine being a backed startup and using a template as your website. It's pretty sad I would say. Not good enough at all, and signals ignorance and a lack of awareness of the importance of design.