INDUSTRIAL DESIGNERS: sexy doesn’t sell, impact does

Recently there was a comment on one of my posts that stood out:

“When you connect every design choice to a revenue impact or user pain point… suddenly everyone gets it.”

That’s the job. And honestly, too many designers still miss it.

Still selling “cool.” Still pitching form over function, impact, or outcome.

If you’ve been banging your head against the wall, trying to understand why they just “don’t get it”, that’s why it’s not working. And it won’t.

Yes, it’s hard to quantify a design's value, especially when you’re moving fast or under budget. But it’s not impossible. You don’t need perfect data. You need alignment.

Start with simple questions:

​ •​ What metric does this improve or protect?

​ •​ What problem does this reduce friction for?

​ •​ What story can the client tell their boss if they say yes?

That’s how you sell design in 2025.

Not by expecting them to see the brilliance, but by showing them what it DOES.

———​ To bold ideas and well-crafted things,​ —Blair

Let’s connect → linkedin.com/in/blairhasty