Looks are not everything, but, at some level, we all make some judgments on appearance. Choosing where we spend our time on the Internet is no different. What do we really want on a website? We want functionality, we want information, and we want usability. But we want it to look good, too!
Why does design matter? Well, before a user has the chance to read about your company, products, or services, click through your galleries, or take advantage of the tools on your site, they'll take in every detail of your site's design, colors, and layout. The web is intensely visual. In most cases, the design and layout of your site will determine whether your visitor will stay or leave.