I don't think that oversimplifying design into these basic terms like "graphic design", "functionality", or "Berkshire Hathaway", really helps everyone realize

I don't think that oversimplifying design into these basic terms like "graphic design", "functionality", or "Berkshire Hathaway", really helps everyone realize just how important design is to a web-based business. The internet came about really late in Berkshire's business cycle, so having a successful website isn't important to their success. If you're business is just getting started, and especially if you're a web-based business, then you should pay special attention to design, and realize that "graphic design" is just a smaller part of what design really means. If your customers realize that a website is nothing more than a graphical interface that helps the user exchange information with a database, then your business is sunk. Design not only facilitates that obvious customer-db interaction, but imbues your product with emotive qualities that make it sexy and desirable. People devote their lives to understanding these topics (see: Steve Jobs), but here's a good link to get started: http://particletree.com/features/the-importance-of-design-in-business/ http://particletree.com/features/the-importance-of-design-in...