Creating through excess: why I chose maximalism?
June 11, 2026
By Mohammad Mohebbi • May 2026
Today, most companies and brands understand that good design is important. Having a graphic designer is no longer optional. It is a necessary part of doing business. Brands that ignore design often fall behind their competitors. Design has become a natural part of modern business. However, there is one important point I would like to focus on. With good design, we usually have only one chance to attract an audience.
As designers, our job is to communicate clearly and honestly. Design can help a brand get noticed. It can create curiosity and encourage people to learn more about a product or service. But design alone cannot build a long-term relationship with customers. That relationship depends on quality.
Customers experience quality directly. They may notice design first, but they stay because the product or service meets their expectations. When the real experience matches the promise made by design, trust is built. When it does not, customers slowly turn away and choose competitors instead.
A clear example of this can be seen in a popular ice cream brand in Iran called Domino. One of their products is called Aroosaki Ice Cream. The packaging design is clean, colourful, and very attractive. The ice cream is displayed in 3D on the packaging. This creates the expectation that the ice cream inside will look very similar. But once the package is opened, the experience is different. The product does not match what was promised visually. This creates a gap between design and reality.
As designers, we often do not control the quality of the product itself. But we do control how it is presented. In this case, a more honest design approach could have helped. Instead of showing a 3D ice cream, the packaging could have focused on the idea of a toy-inspired ice cream. This would communicate the concept without creating unrealistic expectations.
When design promises more than a product can deliver, trust is damaged. Even a strong visual design cannot fix that. This leads to a key point. Alignment between a brand’s values, product quality, and visual communication is essential. Designers act as the voice of brands. We translate reality into visual language.
Design is not only about making things look beautiful. It is about clarity, responsibility, and honesty. When design reflects what a brand truly offers, it helps build long-lasting customer relationships.
About Mohammad Mohebbi
Mohammad Mohebbi is a graphic designer with over 8 years of experience in digital and print media, specializing in crafting cohesive visual identities and user-focused designs. He blends creativity with strategic thinking to help brands communicate clearly and honestly with their audience.