The Write Side of Design.

I’m not a writer. At least, not a writer writer. I’m a designer. But the longer I do this, the more I realize design and writing are inseparable. Design is about communication, and words are one of our sharpest tools.

I work with words every day — not in essays or novels, but in visual identities. A word becomes a logo. A sentence becomes a brand promise. The shape of a headline, the weight of a typeface, the rhythm of spacing — these are not just visual decisions, they’re editorial ones. They influence what people feel long before they consciously process what they read.

There’s also the work that happens outside the design: persuading clients. Every idea has to be sold. Every concept has to be explained. The difference between a client dismissing something and embracing it often comes down to language — how precisely, clearly, and confidently I frame the idea. I wish the work spoke for itself, but that’s often just not the case.

So while I may not be a “writer” in the traditional sense, writing is absolutely an essential design skill. It’s not optional. Not secondary. Essential. If you can’t articulate your design and how you arrived there, it won’t matter how strong the concept is. Words carry the idea across the finish line.

For small business owners, this matters more than you might think. A brand isn’t built on visuals alone — it’s built on the words you choose to pair with them. Hell... everything you say to your customers is an essential piece of the brand puzzle. The language you use to describe your business, your products, and your values is just as critical as your identity, logo, color palette, and photography styling. They all have to work together. When your design and your words align, you don’t just look professional — you communicate with clarity, and clarity earns trust. And trust earns loyalty. And loyalty earns sales.