Do you remember the last time you saw an ad without any appealing design or images?

Probably not.

Without a catchy headline and the right visual design elements you’re not going to capture anyone’s attention. Headlines and visuals matter!

Why? Because the average human attention span is only 8 seconds.

In fact, several studies indicate that our attention span has drastically reduced between 2000 and 2015.

This impacts marketers across the world, and makes visual design even more vital to any successful marketing initiative.

Why is Visual Design so Important for Marketing?

Humans are 90% visual-driven beings

To grab and hold anyone’s attention, a strong and interesting image is important.

As dominantly visual beings, people can remember images better and faster than text. They can process entire images that the eye sees for as little as 13 milliseconds.

Picture Superiority Effect

Over the course of 3 days, an individual can remember 65% of information that is accompanied by images. Compared to information which only has text and/or audio, the same individual will only remember 10% of the information!

Hiring a creative agency

Given the importance of images in making a long-lasting impression on the human mind, companies cannot do without hiring a creative agency.

When it comes to marketing, creative assets are a big part of every campaign or project, especially so for social media marketing and dynamic social ads. Now, with digital marketing as the norm, companies will need the combined expertise of content strategists, advertising specialists as well as a team of creative professionals to bring out the best of what their company has to offer.

Even with a powerhouse sales or inbound marketing team to sell your story, you’ll still require the support of a team of creative designers to bring your ideas to life.

Still not convinced? Well here are some examples which are bound to change your mind after watching them.

Some Great Samples

Introducing Crash Detection for the iPhone 14 Pro by Apple

Apple is a prime example of what it takes to make an effective advertisement.

The video lasts for less than a minute. At that time, it informs the audience all about the highlighted feature – crash detection.

With great visual storytelling, bold fonts, rhythmic beats and a mix of dark and bright colours, the ad is capable of keeping the audience interested.

This is not the first time Apple has used such a style for its ads. Over the years, Apple has successfully acquired an advertising format that is uniquely recognised as Apple. This emphasises the critical role of a creative team which can make or break a brand.

Valentine’s Day Print Campaign for Mcdonald’s (Thailand)

Did you do a double-take when you first saw these images?

Released on Valentine’s Day for McDonald’s  (Thailand) a few years ago, these are printed ads which showed pictures of people supposedly leaning in for a kiss…with a burger!

Ditching the usual family-friendly approach with McDonald’s ads, the creative team behind this campaign decided to turn up the heat and bring in some romance. Toying with the idea of two people kissing, the pictures showed individuals leaning towards their favourite burger cleverly shaped like a person’s face.

Whether you’re single or in a relationship, everyone can say “I’m lovin it” to these burgers!

Wrapping Up

By now, I hope you can see that visual design is a critical factor that can increase the success of any marketing campaign these days. To stand out from the myriad of ads online, a business will need the use of visually impactful designs. This is especially important since a customer’s attention span lasts for a mere 8 seconds today, and online ad formats are getting shorter and shorter. So, before you start your next campaign, remember to hire a creative agency that helps you create designs that can attract and sell!

Work with our diverse team of creatives who’ll bring your ideas to life with impactful designs. If you’re looking for a branding and visual communications expert, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Originally published: 15 July 2020
Updated: 25 November 2022