Why Design Matters
http://www.iabc.com/cwb/archive/2007/1107/Canfield.htm

Canfield, Jocelyn
Communication World Bulletin
2007

Abstract:

As business communicators, our goal is typically to influence opinion or change behavior in order to achieve business objectives. To accomplish this, we must get people to interact with our message. A page of 12-point Times New Roman text is seldom compelling, so what you are left with to persuade people to read your publication is graphic design.