Designing for the IT community can be challenging. What I’ve learned is that often less is more. We’ve worked with a variety of different clients and all of them have different ideas of what will look good and what won’t, but at the end of the day the focus is on clarity and simplicity, not flashiness. Making sure the end result is easily understood by their audience.

When I often see problems arise is when designers make the assumption that complexity in design mirrors the complexity of the work of IT teams. But that’s not the case. IT pros value straightforward, clean designs that get the message across without unnecessary distractions. It’s not that they aren’t visual - quite the opposite. They often work with graphical representations of systems and data. The difference lies in their preference for designs that prioritise effective communication.

That said, IT professionals appreciate design, and respond like anyone else to colour, typography and imagery. The key is stripping it back and keeping it subtle. Think of these things as complementary not the focus. They are there to support and enhance the content, not overpower it.

So, when designing for the IT community, it’s not about showing off your design prowess. It’s about creating something that’s useful and respectful of their professional ethos. Sometimes, that means knowing when to dial it back.