Welcome to Brand It, Build It, the podcast created to help you design a brand and business that works for you — not the other way around. I’m your host, Kelly Zugay, and today’s episode is about something I see time and time again in the world of creative business: overdesigning.

If you’ve ever found yourself adding “just one more” element, a pop of color here, a fancy font there, or an extra section you might not even need, you’re not alone. It’s so easy to get caught up in the details, especially when you genuinely care about how your brand looks. But here’s the truth: overdesigning can cost you sales.

In this episode, we’re going to talk about why overdesign happens in the first place, the risks of a cluttered brand or website, and most importantly, how you can embrace simplicity in a way that actually boosts your business. Let’s dive in.

Why Overdesign Happens

When you pour your heart into your brand, it’s natural to want every inch of it to feel unique, creative, and polished. Maybe you’ve spent hours scrolling Pinterest, saving ideas from brands you admire, or investing in fancy fonts and color palettes. And there’s nothing wrong with caring about your design — that’s a good thing!

But sometimes, when you combine all those ideas without a clear, strategic filter, your brand ends up with too many competing elements. It’s like trying to wear every single piece of jewelry in your box at once. Sure, each piece might be beautiful on its own, but together? It’s overwhelming.

The same thing happens with your website. When you overload it with colors, animations, moving text, and multiple call-to-action buttons all fighting for attention, you risk confusing your visitor — and a confused visitor never buys.

The Risks of Overdesigning

So what exactly does overdesigning cost you?

First, it hurts clarity. When someone lands on your website, you have a matter of seconds — literally seconds — to help them understand who you are, what you do, and why they should care. If they have to work too hard to figure that out, they’re going to click away.

Second, it damages trust. A cluttered, busy, or inconsistent brand presence can feel chaotic and unprofessional, even if you poured endless hours into it. People associate clarity and confidence with simplicity — think about the best luxury brands in the world. Their visuals are almost always pared down, minimal, and bold. That’s no accident.

Finally, it affects conversion. Every design element on your website should have a job. If there are too many elements, they compete with each other and your visitor doesn’t know where to click. That means fewer inquiries, fewer sales, and less growth for your business.

How to Embrace Simplicity (and Still Stand Out)

Let’s talk about what you can do instead.

First, get crystal clear on your brand strategy. Your strategy is the filter through which every design decision should pass. Before you add that new font, animation, or feature, ask:

• Does this support my message?
• Does this help my ideal client feel more confident in me?
• Does this make the user experience easier?

If the answer is no, it’s a no-go.

Second, prioritize white space. White space — or negative space — is not “empty” or “boring.” It’s breathing room. It makes your brand feel more elevated, more professional, and easier to navigate.

Third, focus on a single, powerful call to action per page. One page, one goal. This reduces decision fatigue for your audience and dramatically increases conversions.

And finally, remember: simplicity does not mean generic. You can still have personality, creativity, and artistry — but do it in a way that feels intentional and restrained. Think of it as editing a story. You don’t want to remove the heart of it, but you do want to cut anything that’s distracting from your main message.

Final Takeaway

If you take anything away from today’s episode, let it be this: simple sells. Simple converts. Simple builds trust.

When you remove the noise and focus on what matters, you’ll build a brand that truly resonates with the people you want to serve — and you’ll make it easier for them to say yes.

If you found this episode helpful, it would mean so much if you subscribed, left a review, or shared it with a friend. And of course, if you’d like to learn more about how to build a brand and website that works for you, you can always find resources and guidance at withgraceandgold.com.

Thank you so much for tuning in to Brand It, Build It. See you next week!