Good Design is Cheap
The value of good design is often not calculated correctly. By definition, something that is cheap is "worth more than its cost". So if we take into account how transformative good design can be, then its value increases.
Sadly the value of design is often measured as a pure cost without taking into account any other variables. That's why some people tend to go for the cheapest cost, and not what is trully cheaper.
Let me give an example to put this into perspective. If company XYZ is looking for the design of their entire identity (logo, business cards, website, the whole shebang) they usually have two options. The first is to cut as many corners as possible, do things themselves, outsource some smaller pieces, get freelancers, crowdsource and anything else that will keep the expense as close to zero as possible. The second option is to trust the project to professionals, who will work on it for days using their knowledge and experience in order to create the best result.
The big difference between the two options above is that if you go with the first, the end result will be something less polished, probably looking a lot like the competition and doesn't give any advantages. On the other hand if you have chosen the second option and found a good studio/agency to work on it, you will end up with an image that helps you stand out, communicate what you do, show that you are professional and that you care about what you do.
The differences don't stop there. If you now look at how good design affects your business you will find that a company that has the right image and looks professional will probably perform better that its competitors. If we look at it from a revenue perspective, the design that cost you close to 0 but didn't help you get business is much more expensive than the design that cost you several thousands but brought you new clients and increased your revenue.
When measuring the effectiveness of something, don't just look at its monetary cost. Think about its effects and if those make the initial investment worthwhile.
