In our book about value-based design, we have a whole section that focuses on case studies over portfolio pieces.
The most essential part of a case study isn’t the design. It’s the numbers that resulted from your design.
In short, you should be able to point to shipped design and say that the business was impacted by a certain amount. Our own case studies all have numbers attached to them.
Numbers create your reputation.
We’re lucky to function in an industry that is designed, but doesn’t really use design. Put another way, they look pretty but don’t do a great job of listening to their customers. That’s created a big opening for us.
We’ve used value-based design to create outsize change, sometimes doubling our clients’ revenue and radically reworking how they do business. Our average annual revenue bump is over 15% as of press time.
But it’s not just us. Others are practicing value-based work quietly, too:
Nick made intimidating research tools approachable in their workshop, and provided clear examples of how even small-scale analysis & testing could enhance my existing services. As a visual designer navigating a conversion-focused industry, I feel better equipped to find & showcase the impact my work has for my clients. This course will give you confidence to measure your design decisions in pursuit of better ones.
— Jamie Sanchez, Curiouser
I utilized Nick’s teardown service for one of my clients in the travel industry. Given the pandemic situation, they have been hit hard, and we needed to get an expert opinion on the messaging and conversion process. Nick’s advice and “fresh set of eyes” were crucial in determining how we attacked the client’s landing page and reframed messaging. Eventually, we produced a new page that increased conversions by 111%. That is not a misprint. The results were fully A/B tested in Google Optimize.
— Josh Frank, Test Triggers
And they’re getting a lot out of what we teach:
After working in web design for a decade, I still found myself having “ah-ha” moments while reading Nick’s book. Reading and internalizing Value-Based Design could very well be the difference between being a good designer and a great designer.
— Kurt Elster, Ethercycle
You can do this, too
What will happen in your career after practicing & promoting
value-based design?
- You’ll have a sense of what works. Hardly anyone in our industry really understands what will work for the businesses that they serve. By researching customer behavior and evaluating the health of a business, you’ll be more informed in critiques, meetings, and discussions of new work.
- You’ll design for usability, accessibility, and inclusivity, because you already have a precise understanding of how each makes for good business.
- You’ll think impartially about design, not in terms of what’s currently trendy or flashy. This makes it considerably more likely that you’ll build usable and helpful products right out of the gate.
- You’ll be able to advise on business strategy more confidently, which means you’ll be able to bring design into strategic conversations more effectively.
- You’ll progress in your career more quickly; perhaps you’ll end up in a creative director role, or you’ll be given executive responsibilities.
- If you’re independent, you’ll beat the feast-or-famine cycle by bringing in more stable, durable work, allowing you to grow a high-quality, functional design practice.
- You’ll get paid more, because your prior track record will show that you’re a reliable and successful hire.
- You’ll be a lot more likely to end work every day proud of what you do.
There’s no better time to start than now.
Today, we’re opening a limited discount for our self-paced workshop, and we’d love to see you there. Head there and get 40% off today – no code needed. The discount expires soon, so you’ll probably want to act while you’re still thinking about it. Hooray!
