How Much Does ‘Bad Design’ Really Cost Your Business?

The most common misconception about design is that it is just aesthetics, colors and overall visuals. Which can, in fact, be ugly, outdated or even inconsistent. Nevertheless, bad design has a much bigger and deeper impact on businesses than what commonly expectations dictate. It is major factor in company's profitability.

The financial drain caused by bad design is usually invisible and continuous, as bad design decisions leads to confusing interactions and flows, unclear information and communication, all compound into contributing to lower conversion rates, workers’ productivity and overall brand trust.

But… What really is 'Bad Design' decisions?

A page can look outdated but still be incredibly efficient, on the other hand, a page can look premium and lead to no sales. So, despite attractiveness, what really matters in terms of design?

• Clarity: Confusing layouts and misleading text can be extremely detrimental to a website's productivity. Usually harshly damaging user experience, product perception score and brand loyalty.

• Seamless Flow: A user flow where users can reach their goals frictionless as possible. Avoiding user blockages, over-complicated and repetitive interactions and any kind of unnecessary friction.

• Avoid Cognitive Overload: Keep interactions and messaging as clear and simple as possible. If something doesn't need to be shown, maybe it shouldn't be shown there. Maybe there's a better place and moment for that.

• User Trust: Users should feel safe when using your product, from feeling as their information are not being leaked or sold to feeling comfortable purchasing in your digital platform.

There are an incredible amount of depth to be explored for the topics mentioned above, nevertheless, how does that really applies to actual money drainage?

The Invisibles Cost of 'Bad Design'

1. Lost Conversions and Revenue

The key part about design is functionality and efficiency toward a certain goal. An element should only be placed in a layout if it adds value to the funnel and overall flow. Designers carefully craft detailed visual elements that guide seamlessly users towards conversion. Therefore, in ‘bad designs’, processes that lead to conversion usually fail, such as abandoning forms, onboarding drop-offs and checkout support. Which are usually due to confusing flows, messy layouts and low visual hierarchy. Designers should empathize with users and understand their pain, optimizing features and pages to accommodate their goals and pains, while making sure they result in meaningful metrics to the businesses.

2. Higher User Support and Operational Costs

All the factors above and funnel inefficiencies while results in less conversions, it also substantially increases the number of support tickets, which is highly tied to higher company's operational costs. Unclear information, frustrating interactions and longer onboarding times all lead to unnecessary support interaction, and each support interaction has a cost to the business.

3. Productivity Loss Inside the Company

It is important to state that design does not apply solely to customer related digital interactions, but also digital products used by internal customers, the company's workers. Bad dashboard and CRMs design can have crucial role into productivity levels and morale inside the company. Processes are slower, more errors are committed, and training takes longer. All due to confusing and inefficient features.

4. Brand Damage and Loss of Credibility

As a result of inconsistent visuals, misleading messaging or even confusing layouts, the digital product and brand are heavily exposed, resulting in quite bad perception to the clients. Not only decreasing the product's rentability, but also overall brand equity.

5. The Cost of Redoing Things Later

Operational costs continually increases as problems tend to pile up when the core decisions of your design is flawed. In order to reduce the capital leakage patchwork solutions are inefficiently used, interfaces are rushed, features with no proper place on a strategic plan are created, which results in a lot of rework and sometimes complete tear-down of the existing digital presence. Proper design can save you a lot of work, time and money.

A Buzzvel Case-Study - Coma ou Leve

A clear example of design as operational efficiency is our work with Coma ou Leve, a traditional Portuguese brand handling up to 1,000 orders per day during the holiday season.

Their manual ordering process was becoming unsustainable, leading to errors, delays, and rising operational costs. Buzzvel conducted a deep needs analysis of their work ecosystem and designed a streamlined CRM focused on clarity and frictionless internal flow, simplifying data entry, automating confirmations, and eliminating repetitive tasks. The result: about one full week of work saved per month and a more organized internal workflow capable of handling larger order volumes.

Self-Diagnosis Checklist - Is Design costing your money?

1. Users ask the same questions repeatedly

2. You constantly explain your product manually

3. Conversion metrics have flattened/dipped

4. Support volume is high

5. Your website doesn't reflect the idea and perception you want to

6. You fix symptoms instead of causes

7. Users and Internal teams avoid certain tools

Conclusion

Design is not just pretty aesthetics. It is all about clarity, trust, efficiency and growth. In fact, it is a business multiplier, aggregates measurable and intangible value to your product and company. It helps communicate and execute the leader's vision. Good design is not expensive, bad design is.

If you’re unsure where your product might be leaking revenue or creating friction, Buzzvel can help you analyze your digital presence and uncover opportunities for improvement.