When you ask what is “good design”, that’s like asking what is the meaning of life. No two people can answer it the same way, and neither of them will be any closer to the answer.

Sure, good design starts with strong conceptual thinking, but what makes the design good can’t really be defined.

Of course, typography, color and composition all play an important role in the development of good design. The choice of a sans serif or serif font can alter the overall feeling of the design, and can make something feel more stable that was once too playful, or bring to life something that was once too cold. Color can produce dramatic changes that invoke instant emotional responses. A designer that can master color in their work can alter the feelings of the viewer, and ultimately determine how a general audience of people will respond to their work.

But then again, all these things are subjective, and not one or even a combination of them can produce a design that is “good design” every time, no matter how perfectly executed.

Take for example your logo. The choice of typeface is nice, and the playful combination of the “o’s” is a nice idea. But, I have a personal dislike for the color purple. Overall, the scale of the type in relation to the bird is excellent. Would I rate it as “good design”? I would say that on a technical level, you’ve executed everything perfectly, and it seems balanced. But, for a company that uses creative in their name, I find the logo to be too formal, too cold. Maybe it’s the black / purple color scheme, or the bird, with his back turned to the name. I just don’t feel a connection to it in my gut.

This leads me to my final thought. I struggle everyday as a designer, trying to make good designs. I have no formula to make this happen. I use the skills I have of typography, color, composition and concept to try and make this happen. Even after all that, it’s only when I feel something, deep down in my gut, that I know something is good. It’s when other people view my work, they either love it or hate it, but it’s the fact that they felt something, that they reacted, that they responded, that I know I created something that was good design.

For me, good design is feeling.

Not sure if that answered your question, but that’s just my thoughts on this rainy Thursday night. Take care.